Moscow, 12 May 2003 (RFE/RL) -- A car bomb exploded in a government compound in northern Chechnya today, killing at least 30 people. Sultan Ahmetkhanov, the head of the Nadterechny region where the blast occurred, said a truck filled with explosives had damaged part of an administration building and the headquarters of the Federal Security Service in the town of Znamenskoye.
He said at least 60 people were injured in the blast. Ahmetkhanov said the explosion left a crater up to 16 meters in diameter and two meters deep.
Interfax says Russian Deputy Prosecutor-General Sergei Fridinsky is heading to the scene.
Znamenskoye houses a large refugee camp and has served as headquarters for international human rights monitors.