Investigation into Yerevan Bus Explosion Continues
YEREVAN (A.W.)—Armenia’s Investigative Committee said on April 28 that they will soon reveal more details about the explosion of a public transportation bus, which took place in Yerevan on the night of April 25, killing two people and severely injuring eight others. Sona Truzyan, advisor to the chair of the committee, said that although the investigation is still underway, information will be provided periodically for the best interests of the investigation, reported Armenia’s News.am.
The Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office was quick to release a statement ruling out the possibility that the explosion was an act of terrorism.
Investigators found a telephone SIM card on scene, and in cooperation with the National Security Service, concluded that the owner of the card was a twice-convicted Armenian national, who was one of the victims of the blast.
According to investigators, the alleged perpetrator intended to kill members of his family, after a domestic disagreement. According to News.am, traces of explosive were found on the samples from the scene and later inside the suspect’s house.
The chair of Armenia’s Investigative Committee Aghvan Hovsepyan received a delegation headed by the legal attaché of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the region Mrs. Kathleen Canning on April 27.
During their meeting, Canning expressed the bureau’s willingness to provide “professional aid” in the investigation of the explosion, the Investigative Committee said in a press statement. Canning also said that criminological equipment will be provided by the FBI to help conduct the investigation.
On April 26, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia offered its condolences to the families of those killed in the explosion, and offered its support to Armenian authorities in the investigation. “We stand ready to offer whatever assistance we can to help the Armenian authorities investigate this incident. We praise the police for their calm, professional investigation,” read a part of the statement.
Source: Armenian Weekly Mid-West