MAKHACHKALA — At least one person was killed during a bomb attack on a liquor store on Friday in Makhachkala, Dagestan, local officials said.
The store may have come under attack because it sold alcohol, an unidentified security official said. Stores purveying liquor have come under sustained intimidation from radical Islamists in the mostly Muslim republic of Dagestan.
"It is not the first time that this store has been bombed. The first time it happened was on August 3," the official said.
An unidentified individual entered the store, shot the security guard and left the bomb inside the premises, the official said. The attacker later detonated the bomb remotely by mobile phone.
Police are also considering the possibility that the attackers were militants demanding protection money.
The Investigative Committee said two other people were injured in the blast, which completely destroyed the store.
The attack bears similarities to an incident late last month in which a double explosion rocked a liquor store and adjacent shop in Makhachkala, killing at least one person and injuring several others.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.