First suspects in Minsk terrorist attack detained at night

Officers of the Interior Ministry’s main department on organized crime and corruption detained 2 suspects in connection with a criminal case in Minsk metro.

According to Interfax-Zapad, the information was spread by Deputy Prosecutor General Andrei Shved.

“These are two persons. Investigations are under way. First questionings in the presence of lawyers were carried out and first evidence was obtained,” the Deputy Prosecutor General said.

The suspects were detained at late night of April 12.

“We are working to find out their connection to the previous blasts,” the Deputy Prosecutor General noted.

According to him, the footage of Minsk metro “gives a great probability to suppose that one of the detained performed the terrorist act”.

Shved said that both detainees are citizens of Belarus, born in one of the country’s regional centre.

“They have known each other for a long time. They do not have previous convictions,” the representative of the prosecution agency noted.

Asked which of the versions proposed by yesterday by Belarusian KGB head Vadzim Zaitsau, is being investigating, the Deputy Prosecutor General said they had a new version. According to Shved, one of the facial composites closely resembles the detainee. We were ready to release facial composites and video of doers yesterday, but refrained from this. It was a tactical trick.”

“the video, prepared by KGB anti-terrorism department, clearly and unambiguously shows the sequence of the tragic events.,” Shved noted.

According to him, “It is clearly seen in the footage that a suspect arrives at the Kupalovskaya metro station, goes down to the Oktyabrskaya station, remained on the platform, leaves the bag on a bench, and goes away with his hand in his jacket pocket. Then a blast occurred.”

Earlier, Belarusian Deputy Prosecutor General Andrei Shved said several persons had been detained on suspicion of involvement in the Minsk metro terrorist attack, but later he denied this information on television.