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3rd LD Writethru: Blast kills at least 2, injures 9 in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkov

Xinhua, February 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

An explosion killed at least two people and injured nine others during a march in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkov on Sunday afternoon, local health department said.

The blast happened during a peaceful march to mark the first anniversary of the regime change.

According to TASS news agency, one policeman and one civilian died in the blast, and those wounded have been hospitalized, three of whom were in "serious condition".

Kharkov regional police chief Anatoly Dmitriyev termed the explosion as "terrorist attack".

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) detained four suspects in connection with the explosion, and weapons were found with them, including a grenade launcher.

"According to preliminary reports, a bomb filled with shrapnel was set off in Kharkov. The bomb was placed in a plastic bag. It was hidden under the snow at the roadside," the Interfax news agency quoted Kharkov regional prosecutor Yuriy Danylchenko as saying.

Earlier reports quoted the witnesses as saying that the explosion was caused by an explosive device thrown from a passing car into the rally crowd.

Alexander Pivovar, head of Kharkov regional department of SSU, said the bomb "was similar to that used in the powerful explosion near the Moskovsky Court" also in the city of Kharkov on Jan. 19, which wounded 13 people.

Alexander Turchynov, Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council, said the highest terror alert has been declared in Kharkov and a counter-terrorism campaign has been launched following the tragedy.

Kharkov, the second largest city of Ukraine, has borne witness to several powerful blasts late last year. Endite