Chechnya Spetsnaz base explosion

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Chechnya Spetsnaz base explosion
DateFebruary 8, 2006 (2006-02-08)
VenueKurchaloi
LocationGrozny
CauseGas leak
Deaths13
Non-fatal injuries28
Property damageTwo-storey building collapsed

The Chechnya Spetsnaz base explosion was the February 8, 2006, blast at the Russian Defense Ministry's special security unit barracks at Kurchaloi near Grozny, Chechnya, which killed at least 13 Russian special forces troops and injured 28 more, according to the official statement. [1] [2]

The two-story building, which collapsed, housed a unit of about 200 GRU servicemen, of which some 43 were believed to have been inside at the time of the explosion. The officials said a gas leak was the most likely cause but did not rule out other theories. [3] Chechen rebels reported on the gas explosion theory with scepticism but did not suggest outright that militants had targeted it. [4]


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References

  1. Death Toll In Chechen Explosion Rises To 13, RFE/RL, 8 February 2006
  2. At least 12 die in blast at Russian military base in Chechnya Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , DAWN, February 8, 2006
  3. Gas Leak to Blame in Chechnya Blast That Killed 12, Axcess News, 8 Feb 2006
  4. SADULAEV: THE RUSSIANS ARE LOSING Archived 2007-10-29 at the Wayback Machine , The Jamestown Foundation, April 06, 2006