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Two detained in connection with blast in Perm nightclub

05 December 2009 10:29 (UTC +04:00)

RIA Novosti reports quoting Vladimir Markin, the official representative of the Investigation Committee of the Russian Prosecutorâ€™s Office that along with Anatoli Zak, executive director of the club Svetlana Yefremova has also been detained. Zak said he had no link to the blast, he had leased the club.

They face charges under article 219.2 (violation of fire safety rules that caused the death of two or more people) of the Criminal Code of Russia.

Markin said the other offenders had been identified, measures were being taken to detain them.

Blast occurred in the nightclub â€œKhromaya loshadâ€ in the city of Perm, Russia, at 23.15 (Moscow time) on the night of December 4-5. According to the recent reports, 102 people were killed and 130 injured in the blast. Most of the injured had burns, a lot of people were poisoned from carbon monoxide. According to initial versions, negligent use of fireworks caused the blast. Criminal case has been launched on violation of fire safety. Prosecutor General of Russia Yuri Chayka is controlling the investigation.

Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev and Health and Social Development Minister Tatyana Golikova arrived at the site.

The ministers are in the state commission set up in connection with the blast. Sergei Shoigu leads the commission set up by Russian President.

One of the detainees Zak is among 100 richest persons of the city. He is the owner of the nightclub â€œKhromaya loshadâ€, chain stores selling building materials and several real estate commercial facilities.