A suicide bomber today blew up an explosives-laden car at a traffic police base in the restive Russian republic of Dagestan bordering Chechnya, killing at least six officers and injuring 14 others.
The bomber drove his car to the traffic police base in Makhachkala, the capital of Daghestan, when policemen were lined up for the morning briefing.
"The force of the explosion is estimated at 50-60 kg of TNT equivalent and the sound of blast could be heard in different parts of Makhachkala," a police spokesman told state-run Vesti news channel.
The blast left six policemen dead and 14 wounded, the report said.
However, the larger tragedy was averted as the entry was blocked by a police vehicle before the blast was triggered, the spokesman said.
"Thanks to the precautionary measures taken since last August's similar attack on a police station in neighbouring Ingushetia, a larger loss of life could be averted," he said, adding the officers killed were those who blocked the terrorist's car.