15 injured in train derailment in Russia

    MOSCOW, June 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The Prosecutor's Office of the Moscow region on Sunday morning started criminal proceedings over a passenger train derailment in the Moscow region, believing the accident was caused by terrorist explosion, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

    According to the train driver, an explosion occurred on railwaytracks in front of the train, and an investigation group working at the site found a one-meter deep crater, spokeswoman for the Federal Security Service (FSB) Diana Shemyakina said.

    Wires attached to one of the tracks at the site of explosion and "traces of a hiding place" for the criminals to take shelter were also found, she added.

    The criminal case involves charges of terrorism and an attempt on the life of two or more persons by socially dangerous methods.

    The blast occurred near the Uzunovo station, Moscow region, at 7:11 a.m. local time (0311GMT) on Sunday, while the passenger train with 304 people on board was traveling from Grozny to Moscow.     

    The explosion caused five carriages of the train to jump off the tracks after the third carriage was detached from the second one, injuring at least 15 people, according to the report.

    Vice Governor of the Moscow region Alexei Panteleyev said that the power of the explosive device was some five kilograms of TNT.

    The explosion took place on the Day of Russia holiday. Many terrorist attacks launched by Chechen rebels in the past were timed for significant days in Russia to achieve greater social impact. Enditem