Moscow, 31 October 1996 (RFE/RL) -- An unidentified woman attacked a guard in the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow today by pouring petrol on him and then setting the petrol on fire, said an embassy spokeswoman.
The spokeswoman, Olivia Hilton, told RFE/RL that the woman entered the embassy this morning and poured petrol from a plastic bag on one of two guards. Hilton said the guard, a U.S. citizen, managed to get away without being injured.
Hilton said the sprinkler system in the embassy quickly extinguished the small fire, which she said caused some smoke and water damage.
She said the female attacker escaped and that Russian authorities are cooperating with the embassy to locate her.