Investigation underway on explosions in Russia's Stavropol region

Investigations were underway to find more facts about the explosions in the southern Russian region of Stavropol, Russia's Investigative Committee said Monday in an online statement.

A criminal case has been opened and transferred to the North Caucasus Federal District's Investigative Committee, while the deputy head of the federal investigative committee has arrived to coordinate the investigation work on the scene.

At about 10 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Monday, three unidentified men tried to break into the Interior Ministry building in Novoselitsk district of the Stavropol region, during which grenades exploded.

The federal Investigative Committee said that two attackers were killed by police and one blew himself up.

Local media previously reported that three suicide bombings and four attackers were involved in the incident, while police said five explosions were heard.

No casualties were reported, while buildings and cars nearby were damaged by the explosions.

Counter-terrorism operations are underway in Stavropol. Also, a hotline has been launched, while extraordinary checks and inspections of transport facilities and sensitive sites had been ordered.

Stavropol is located in Russia's North Caucasian Federal District, a region troubled by regular violence, including attacks against government establishments and civilians. Endi