Moscow - UP to 30 people were injured, five seriously, in an explosion at a shopping mall in the centre of Moscow close to the northern entrance to Red Square, writes Seamus Martin. It was not clear last night if the explosion was accidental or deliberate but in the current tense political situation there were unsubstantiated claims of terrorism.
The Manezh Square complex was built on the orders of Moscow's Mayor, Mr Yuri Luzhkov, as a showcase for Russia's post-communist capital. It is an underground shopping centre where most Russians cannot afford to spend but many go simply to look at what is available.
Mr Luzhkov, a candidate to replace Mr Boris Yeltsin as President of Russia, said on the independent NTV channel last night he was unsure of the reasons for the blast.
What was previously an exclusive shopping centre has, however, since the economic collapse of a year ago, moved somewhat downmarket and the video arcade in which last night's explosion took place was a hang-out for teenagers and it is understood most of the injured in the explosion were in that age group.
Police almost immediately described the blast as a "terrorist act". This has, however, been a standard reaction to all explosions including those caused by faulty gas mains and other defects. It was too early last night to say if the explosion was an accident or a politically-motivated act.