Centrs department store bombing
| Centrs department store bombing | |
|---|---|
Image of the department store Centrs in 2002 | |
| Location | Riga, Latvia |
| Date | August 17, 2000 5:19 pm – 5:27 pm (UTC+2) |
| Target | Centrs department store |
Attack type | Bombing |
| Weapons | Time bombs |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Injured | 35 |
The Centrs department store bombing was an attack on a department store in Riga, Latvia on 17 August 2000, where two timed bombs detonated independently of each other. The two blasts occurred in the lobby of the store ten minutes apart. One person was killed while 35 were wounded in the attack.[1][2]
Attack
The first bomb exploded at 5:19 pm. Police arrived a few minutes later and began an evacuation. The blast had shattered glass windows and filled the ground floor with smoke. Eight minutes later, the second bomb exploded. Dozens were injured, three had to be rushed to hospital whilst 33 others were treated at the scene. One woman died in hospital.[3]
Investigation
After a year and a half, the police arrested a suspect who was later charged for planting the second bomb, but was acquitted by the Supreme Court one year later due to lack of evidence. Since then, no one has been charged or found guilty for the explosions.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "Latvian shopping centre blast". BBC News. August 17, 2000.
- ^ "Incident Summary". Global Terrorism Database. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ^ "Bomb Blast in Riga Injures 28". The Moscow Times. 19 August 2000. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ Kasparāns, Ģirts (August 20, 2020). ""No trieciena zaudēju dzirdi, iestājās kontūzija." Pirms 20 gadiem sprādzieni satricināja universālveikalu "Centrs". Izmeklēšana joprojām turpinās".