Two explosions rip through one of Moscow’s largest markets

Two explosions possibly caused by a homemade bomb tore through a Moscow market on Monday morning, killing at least eight people, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.

See photoreport of the accident here

Ministry spokeswoman Yulia Sadnikova said preliminary information indicated the blast that hit the Cherkizovsky market in the northeastern part of the city about 10:30 a.m. (0630GMT) was caused by an unspecified explosive device, the AP said.

She said seven people were confirmed dead. But the ITAR-Tass news agency, citing unnamed police officials, said the death toll was nine.

ITAR-Tass also cited police as saying the explosion appeared to have been caused by a gas cylinder. Such cylinders are widely used at Moscow 's markets for heating and cooking.