MOSCOW, May 17 (RIA Novosti) - At least seven people, including the acting first deputy head of Ingushetia's Interior Ministry, died Wednesday in a bombing in Nazran, the North Caucasus region's capital, a ministry source said.
The source said a vehicle packed with explosives was detonated as a column of three cars carrying Dzhabrail Kostoyev and his entourage drove past on the road from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. Two of Kostoyev's bodyguards also died in the attack, as well as four civilians driving past in another car.
Local prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation on charges of terrorism.
The ministry source said the explosion had the force of 200 kg of TNT equivalent.
Earlier, reports suggested the attack could have been a suicide bombing.
Investigators are currently examining the scene. Early reports said Kostoyev had already survived several previous attempts on his life.
