BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's deputy interior minister has said an explosion at a bazaar in Bishkek last week could be a terrorist act.
Deputy Interior Minister Keneshbek Duishebayev said Kyrgyz experts and specialists from the U.S.-led international coalition against terrorism based at the Ganci airbase in the 'Manas' airport outside Bishkek independently concluded the blast that left seven people dead and more than 20 injured was caused by an explosive device left in the left-luggage office of the 'Oberon' firm. The blast damaged an area of 6,400 square meters. The left-luggage office and three containers with goods were totally ruined.
Duishebayev said the bomb was likely left at a storage area at the bazaar. He also said law enforcement agencies have descriptions of two people with Asian faces believed to have been involved in the bombing.
The explosion was originally blamed on fireworks that ignited or a gas canister. Neither of those possibilities has been ruled out yet. One of the versions is a possible underground war between criminal groups.
Deputy Interior Minister Keneshbek Duishebayev said Kyrgyz experts and specialists from the U.S.-led international coalition against terrorism based at the Ganci airbase in the 'Manas' airport outside Bishkek independently concluded the blast that left seven people dead and more than 20 injured was caused by an explosive device left in the left-luggage office of the 'Oberon' firm. The blast damaged an area of 6,400 square meters. The left-luggage office and three containers with goods were totally ruined.
Duishebayev said the bomb was likely left at a storage area at the bazaar. He also said law enforcement agencies have descriptions of two people with Asian faces believed to have been involved in the bombing.
The explosion was originally blamed on fireworks that ignited or a gas canister. Neither of those possibilities has been ruled out yet. One of the versions is a possible underground war between criminal groups.