Bomb Attack on Russian Intelligence Agency Kills One, Injures Three

Bomb Attack on Russian Intelligence Agency Kills One, Injures Three
A Russian firefighter walks near a fire-engine at building housing after an explosive device went off inside the building in Arkhangelsk, on Oct. 31, 2018. (Michail Shishov/AFP/Getty Images)
The Associated Press
10/31/2018
Updated:
10/31/2018

MOSCOW—A man set off a bomb at the entrance of the local branch of Russia’s main intelligence agency in a northern city on Oct. 31, injuring three security officials and killing himself, authorities said.

The man entered the local branch of the FSB intelligence agency in Akhangelsk and removed the improvised explosive device from a bag, causing it to detonate, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee said.

The explosion killed the man and injured three FSB officers. It was not immediately clear if the man had meant to just leave the bomb or had also intended to die.

Russian police car and fire-engines are seen near a building housing the FSB security service in Arkhangelsk, on Oct. 31, 2018. (Michail Shishov/AFP/Getty Images)
Russian police car and fire-engines are seen near a building housing the FSB security service in Arkhangelsk, on Oct. 31, 2018. (Michail Shishov/AFP/Getty Images)

Russian investigators later identified the attacker as a local 17-year-old man and said they are treating the attack as an act of terrorism.

Akhangelsk governor Igor Orlov had earlier reported one death but did not indicate that that was the attacker. Authorities cordoned off the area around the FSB office and boosted security measures at all public offices in the city.

The FSB and other security have been targeted in the past in another region, the North Caucasus, mostly by Islamist insurgents.