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Ethnic gang warfare seen as cause of Ukhta deadly fire - Russian TV

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  • Ethnic gang warfare seen as cause of Ukhta deadly fire - Russian TV

    Ethnic gang warfare seen as cause of Ukhta deadly fire - Russian TV

    NTV, Moscow
    12 Jul 05

    According to latest reports, the death toll in the shopping centre
    fire in Ukhta has reached 24, the [Russian] Emergencies Ministry told
    NTV.

    Thursday, 14 July, has been declared a day of mourning in the Republic
    of Komi.

    The first funerals will take place soon. The authorities have promised
    financial aid to the victims.

    The fire was most probably caused by arson, police say. A criminal
    investigation has been opened on charges of murder of two or more
    people.

    Two teenagers are the main suspects. Witnesses saw them hurling
    containers filled with a flammable liquid under a staircase on the
    ground floor.

    Some investigators working on the case have told the Kommersant
    newspaper that, I quote, authoritative businessmen [commonly used
    euphemism for criminal bosses] of Slavic origin, unquote, may be
    behind the fire. They have been dreaming for a long time of forcing
    people from the Caucasus out of the city trade. The shop destroyed by
    the fire belonged to a certain Vladimir Gevorkyan [an Armenian name].

    An official from the Ukhta mayor's office has suggested another
    theory. He told the newspaper, I quote, there is no criminal, or,
    moreover, ethnic dispute in the town's business. There was no arson
    either. The fire broke out accidentally, because of negligence,
    unquote.
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