Gas pipeline sabotaged in southern Russia

Investigators think an explosion that ripped through a gas pipeline in the southern Russian region of Dagestan was caused by sabotage and have opened a criminal case on charges of terrorism, the regional Interior Ministry said today.

Two firefighters were injured as they responded to the blaze that broke out on the region’s main gas pipeline at about 10pm (8pm Irish time) yesterday, just west of the capital Makhachkala, said Murtazali Gadzhiyev, Dagestan’s regional emergency situations minister.