The fire that broke out after militants detonated explosive devices at a hydropower plant in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria early on Wednesday has now been extinguished, energy officials said.

 Two security guards were shot dead when militants burst into the Baksan plant in the village of Islamei at about 5:00 a.m. (01:00 GMT). One other person was hospitalized after the attack.

 Investigators say the militants then detonated four explosive devices. The resulting blaze covered an area of 250 sq meters. However, officials say supplies were not affected.

 A police source told RIA Novosti that the militants who carried out the raid on the hydropower plant may have also been responsible for an attack on police that took place some two hours beforehand.

“At 3.15 a.m. a police building was attacked with a grenade launcher in the city of Baksan. There were no casualties,” the source said.

“It cannot be ruled out that we are speaking here about a carefully planned terrorist attack. The attack on the hydropower plant may have been carried out by the same militants who opened fire at the police building,” the source continued.

Russia’s volatile North Caucasus republics witness frequent attacks on police, federal troops and officials.

NALCHIK, July 21 (RIA Novosti)