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29 Jan, 11:36Updated at: 13:34

Kaluga Region man kills three, then self in logging incident gone wrong

According to Vladislav Shapsha, the perpetrator also allegedly set fire to a service vehicle

KALUGA, January 29. /TASS/. An ex-convict who was illegally cutting down trees in the Kuibyshev district of the Kaluga Region killed three park rangers when they confronted him, and then ended his own life, Vladislav Shapsha, the region’s governor, said on his Telegram channel.

"Today, In the Kuibyshev district, a citizen with a prior criminal record was doing some illegal logging. Park rangers quickly came to the site. At the time of detainment, the man fought with them, and took hostages. Unfortunately, three forestry employees were killed," the regional head wrote, adding that the criminal subsequently committed suicide. "Thanks to the efforts of law enforcement, the hostages were freed. They were checked out medically, and there were no injuries or threats to their health."

The regional prosecutor’s office said that the perpetrator also allegedly set fire to a service vehicle.

According to preliminary data, the Kirovsky intermunicipal police department received a report of a Gazelle car on fire on the road near the village of Usokha in the Kuibyshev district of the Kaluga Region. After authorities arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire, three bodies with signs of foul play were found.

Prior to the incident, it is believed that employees of the Kuibyshev Forestry department became aware of illegal logging going on in the territory under their supervision. They went to investigate the situation, taking a Gazelle car to the site of the incident. Regional Prosecutor Konstantin Zhilyakov is personally working with law enforcement to get to the bottom of what happened.