Big explosion at Moscow luxury apartment building, suspected assassination of high-ranking official

A large explosion at a luxury apartment building in the Russian capital Moscow on February 3 killed one person and injured four others.

TASS news agency quoted an emergency official as saying that the explosion occurred in the lobby of the Alye Parusa luxury apartment building (also known as Scarlet Sails) in northwest Moscow, about 12 km from the Kremlin.

Rescue helicopter flies near an apartment building in Moscow on February 3.

A source said the explosion was caused by an unidentified device that detonated in the elevator. The blast destroyed the plaster ceiling and windows of the apartment lobby but did not cause a fire. Initial information showed that the building's structure was intact and there was no risk of collapse.

At least one person was killed and four others were injured. Russian media reported that the explosion occurred as a man and his bodyguards entered the lobby of the building.

Scene of the explosion on February 3

PHOTO: MOSCOW INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE

Law enforcement sources said this was an assassination attempt aimed at Armen Sarkisyan, a senior official of pro-Russian paramilitary forces in Donetsk province in eastern Ukraine.

Mr Sarkisyan, who founded the Arbat Battalion, which fought alongside Russia against Ukrainian forces, is believed to have been on Kyiv’s target list. TASS news agency reported that the official was seriously injured in the blast. Some reports said Mr Sarkissyan had his leg amputated.

The investigating agency has opened a criminal investigation into the incident. Forensic officers are working at the scene.

"The assassination attempt on Sarkisyan was carefully planned and carried out on orders. Investigators are identifying those who ordered this crime," TASS quoted a law enforcement official as saying.

Police patrol outside the apartment building where the explosion occurred in Moscow

In December 2024, Ukraine admitted to assassinating Russian General Igor Kirillov in a bomb attack at the entrance of an apartment building in Moscow. Kyiv has not commented on the latest incident.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/no-lon-tai-chung-cu-cao-cap-moscow-nghi-an-am-sat-nhan-vat-cap-cao-185250203162930214.htm