Five policemen have been killed and another three severely injured as a result of a home-made bomb which was detonated in the Nazran region in Ingushetia on Thursday, according to local police reports.
Among the dead are two high-ranked police officials.
The blast occurred at 13.20 local time (10.20 GMT) while bomb disposal experts were trying to defuse the bomb, which had been discovered on the side of the road. Policemen say it was booby-trapped, designed to go off while being defused.
Two bomb disposal experts and a policeman were severely injured in the blast and taken to hospital in grave condition.
A criminal case has been launched into the accident. The Investigative Committee of the General Prosecutor’s Office is now dealing with the case.