On the discovery of an explosive device

On November 14, at 6:50 AM, the duty officer of the Internal Affairs Directorate received information that an explosive device had been planted on the territory of the Vitebsk Cold Storage Plant. 93 people were evacuated from the enterprise. During the inspection, no explosive items were found. A dummy explosive device was discovered, consisting of a paper bag with sugar, on the packaging of which a handwritten text "caution mine" was applied.

On November 14, at 6:50 AM, the duty officer of the Internal Affairs Directorate received information that an explosive device had been planted on the territory of the Vitebsk Cold Storage Plant. 93 people were evacuated from the enterprise. During the inspection, no explosive items were found. A dummy explosive device was discovered, consisting of a paper bag with sugar, on the packaging of which a handwritten text "caution mine" was applied.

As a result of operational-search activities, officers of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, in cooperation with the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus for the Vitebsk Region and the KGB Directorate for the Vitebsk Region, detained a resident of Vitebsk born in 1976, previously not convicted, a few hours later.

During the investigation, it was established that the latter wanted to check how law enforcement agencies react to a bomb threat report. The caller was detained based on Article 108 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Belarus. The amount of damage from the forced suspension of the cold storage plant's operation, as well as the material costs of the services dispatched to the scene, are being determined.

Currently, the Pervomaisky District Department of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Vitebsk) has initiated a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 340 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (knowingly false report of danger). The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to five years. The person has been charged. A measure of restraint in the form of detention has been chosen.

For additional information, please contact:
8-029-512-38-17, 48-70-41 Official representative of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus for the Vitebsk Region, Inna Gorbacheva.
8-0212-48-70-41