Sochi blast could be pre-planned attack

7 Aug, 2008 13:21 / Updated 16 years ago

A blast in Russia's resort city of Sochi which killed two people earlier today could have been a pre-planned attack, according to the Kransodar region's Governor Aleksandr Tkachev. Investigators are now examining the Black Sea resort's beach to search for

Officials say it's unclear as to what caused the blast, or who was behind it. Up to fifteen people, including children, were injured in the explosion on the resort’s Loo beach on Thursday morning. The explosion happened when a Russian man and a Ukrainian woman approached an unmarked black parcel. Both of them died instantly. The authorities have promised an $80,000 USD reward in exchange for information about the incident. The region's governor has pledged to stop those who try to destabilise the area, if it was a planned attack. President Medvedev has ordered the presidential representative in the region to personally supervise the investigation. Meanwhile, the city's Mayor Vladimir Afanasenkov said surveillance cameras will soon be installed on most streets and beaches in Sochi.