A Russian soldier in east Siberia's Irkutsk Region threatened to blow up a grocery store as he had no money to pay for an alcoholic beverage, local police said.

According to a police spokesman, the detained military serviceman is a private first class from a detachment in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Karachai-Circassia, who was vacationing in the town of Tulun.

"The military serviceman, while under the influence of alcohol, threatened to blow up a local grocery store instead of paying for an alcoholic beverage he had wanted. He drew a grenade to scare a shop assistant. However, he escaped as the alarm went off in the store," the spokesman said.

He added that the alleged armed robber tried to flee the scene by taking a taxi, but was arrested by police officers, who found a training grenade on him.

A criminal case on charges of attempted robbery has been launched and the detained soldier could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.

IRKUTSK, January 12 (RIA Novosti)