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Investigators suppose arson committed to mislead or intimidate

Some persons attempted to set fire to the building of the regional Investigative Committee department located in central Chita

CHITA, October 25 (Itar-Tass). — Investigators are considering two versions of the arson in the investigative department office in Chita — misleading with the aim to attack other sites and intimidating of investigators by organized criminal groups, the Trans-Baikal regional investigative department's press secretary Yegor Markov, told Itar-Tass on Friday.

"If criminals intended to lead us away from other places, they were unsuccessful. Immediately after the attack on the investigative department building, guard at other sites was reinforced," Markov said. Since the Trans-Baikal regional department of the Russian Investigative Committee is investigating a great number of criminal cases, including those linked with bandit groups, investigators do not rule out it is an act of intimidation, he said.

Regional Investigative Committee officials assure all the launched investigations will be completed and the persons who committed the arson will be found.

Some persons attempted to set fire to the building of the regional Investigative Committee department located in central Chita. At about 05:00 local time on Friday (23:00 Moscow time, Thursday), somebody broke a window and threw several bottles filled with inflammable mixture into the building. Policemen who guarded the department put the blaze out. One utility room was slightly damaged.

The region's police Chief Roman Deyev ordered Chita city police to establish who committed the crime and find the attackers.

The investigators have video recordings that show a young man throwing Molotov cocktail bottles. Police ask witnesses to help. Confidentiality is guaranteed.

Criminal cases are opened over the arson.

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