Well-known businessman’s car explodes in South Ossetia

A car exploded in a suspected arson attack near café Vincenzo in the centre of Tskhinval in the evening of 25 December. The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado belonged to Albert Valiev, the owner of the café and president of the South Ossetia Boxing Federation.

“When the fire started we all rushed outside,” recalled Madina, a café employee. “The driver side door of the car was open which is what makes me think it was arson.” She said three explosions had followed one another within ten minutes after the car had started to burn.

About fifteen minutes later, the firefighting squad arrived. “I can’t think how it could have happened or why,” the car owner Albert Valiev told JAMnews. “My holiday mood is effectively soured. Also, I’m upset because [the fire] destroyed my work-related documents – I usually keep the files in the car. Who could have imagined this would happen?!”

Law enforcers and investigators of the Ministry for Emergencies are currently at the scene gathering evidence.

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