Molotov cocktails hurled at Investigative Committee building in Chita
CHITA. Oct 25 (Interfax) - Unknown persons threw Molotov cocktails at a building owned by the Trans-Baikal Territory branch of the Russian Investigative Committee, as well as into windows of a district police station and a non-departmental security force building in Chita.
The fires that subsequently erupted were rapidly extinguished, the Investigative Committee's local branch and the region's police department said in a press release.
"Several units of firefighters are working at the scene. They are examining the building in order to prevent any further blazes. Investigators working in this building were put on high alert. All valuable items, criminal case files and other important documents were removed from the building," according to the press release.
Investigators are working at the site.
Trans-Baikal Territory police chief Roman Deyev has ordered the Chita city police to take every measure to identify and detain the persons behind these arson attacks, a local police spokesman said.
Instructions were also issued to increase security at these buildings.
"Investigators are focusing on two theories behind the arson - an attempt to distract attention in order to attack other buildings owned by the department or an attempt by organized criminal groups to intimidate investigators," spokesman for the Investigative Committee's Trans-Baikal branch Yegor Markov told Interfax.
Investigators also provided local media outlets with CCTV footage that shows a young man throwing Molotov cocktails at the building.