Police question three over suicide attack that killed at least 17 people in major city in Russia's North Caucasus. Last Modified: 10 Sep 2010 00:42 GMT
Insert fp: The Caucasus, where nations have emerged, or re-emerged, comparatively recently from the disintegration of the Soviet Union, contains many dangerous zones, still including Georgia and secessionist South Ossetia, where violence erupted during the 2008 Olympic Games, a time that traditionally sees a cessation of wars. But - fingers crossed - we predict that we may survive 2010 without seeing an old-fashioned military invasion of one neighbour by another.
The number of deaths is expected to rise as many of the wounded were hospitalised in serious condition [AFP]
Russian police have detained three men on suspicion of involvement in a deadly suicide attack at a busy marketplace in North Ossetia.
The announcement came as the number of those killed in the blast on Thursday in Vladikavkaz, a major city in Russia's North Caucasus region, rose to at least 17.
Alexander Bortnikov, the federal security chief, told Russian news agencies on Thursday evening that the men were suspected accomplices of the bomber.
"Three have been detained on suspicion of carrying out this terrorist act. At the moment I can only give this information," Bortnikov said after travelling to the scene.
Nearly 140 people were wounded in the bombing and officials warned the death toll would likely rise as many of the injured were in critical condition.
Investigation
Russia said it was launching an investigation into what it described as an "act of terror" on Thursday, while Dmitry Medvedev, the president, vowed to capture the "bastards" who organised the attack.
"We will do everything to capture these monsters ... these bastards, who carried out a terrorist act on ordinary people," he was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying.
"We will do everything to find and punish them."
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing - the deadliest attack since twin suicide bombings on Moscow metro network in March killed 40 people and wounded over 100.
Vladikavkaz is the capital of the Russian republic of North Ossetia, which lies in the restive North Caucasus region.
Meanwhile Barack Obama, the US president, in a written statement condemned the "terrorist bombing" and offered his condolences to the victims.
"Our hearts go out to the people of North Ossetia, who have already suffered so much from horrific acts of terrorism. We offer our deepest condolences, and stand with the people of Russia in this time of tragedy," he said.
"This bombing further underscores the resolve of the United States and Russia to work together in combating terrorism and protecting our people."
Schools evacuated
The bomb, which was said to be packed with metal bars, bolts and ball bearings, was detonated at the entrance to the city's market where buyers and traders were operating.
The region suffers from ethnic tensions and has seen a wave of unrest in recent months [EPA]
Vladikavkaz's market and its surrounding blocks has been the target of several bomb attacks over the past decade or so, in which scores of people have died.
Neave Barker, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Moscow, said children were believed to be among the dead and injured.
Our correspondent said that the attack could have been a "message" from separatist fighters that "the authorities and the people of the North Caucasus remain as vulnerable as they were six years ago when the Beslan siege took place, despite an increase in counter-insurgency operations".
He added that local authorities in the province said they received an anonymous threat to blow up an unspecified school in Vladikavkaz on Thursday, leading to all schools and kindergartens being evacuated.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, said the country must not let attacks like these continue.
"Criminals like those who acted today in the North Caucasus hope to sow hatred between our peoples. We have no right to let this happen," he said.
Scene of massacre
North Ossetia is seen as one of the Caucasus' more stable areas, unlike the republics of Chechnya and Dagestan, which see violence between separatists and Russian forces on a regular basis.
However, the republic does suffer from ethnic tensions and has seen a rise in unrest in recent months.
In November 2008, the mayor of the city was killed when an assassin shot him in the chest near his home.
It was also the scene of the 2004 Beslan massacre, in which Chechen separatist fighters took hundreds of hostages at a school - a siege that ended in the deaths of 330 people, around half of them children.
Unlike most other Caucasus provinces where Muslims make up the majority of the population, North Ossetia is predominantly Orthodox Christian.
AI
