(SYKYTVKAR, KOMI REPUBLIC, NORTHERN RUSSIA) – At least nine people were injured after an explosion tore through a police training centre in the city of Syktyvkar in northern Russia, according to officials and regional media reports.
The incident occurred at a professional training centre run by the Interior Ministry in the Komi Republic. Authorities said the blast happened during a training session inside the facility, which prepares recruits and serving officers for law enforcement duties.
Emergency medical services said eight of those injured were taken to hospital, with four reported to be in a critical condition. One person was treated at the scene and did not require hospital care.
Witness accounts and local reports said victims were rescued through windows as thick smoke filled parts of the building, with outside temperatures reported to be around minus fifteen degrees Celsius. Several hundred people were evacuated as flames spread on the second floor of the complex, including the main assembly hall.
Firefighters said the blaze covered an area of about three hundred and forty square metres before it was brought under control. Roads around the training centre were closed as emergency teams responded.
Officials said the explosion was caused by the accidental detonation of a stun grenade during training. They insisted there was no sign of an external attack. Investigators are examining whether a breach of safety procedures led to the blast, and some reports suggest a gas cylinder may have worsened the fire after the initial explosion.
Video footage shared by local media showed heavy smoke pouring from the building and injured people being carried to safety by rescue workers.
The Russian Investigative Committee has reportedly opened a criminal case to examine possible negligence, according to reports by the independent outlet The Moscow Times.
Watch: Russian Police Training Centre Explosion in Syktyvkar
