Eight people arrested in connection with Crimea bridge explosion

The Russian FSB has arrested five Russian citizens and “three citizens of Ukraine and Armenia” in a criminal case related to the October 8 explosion on the bridge between Russia and Crimea, Interfax reported Wednesday.

The FSB and the Russian Investigative Committee claim to have determined that “the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge was organized by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate; its head, Kyrylo Budanov; and employees and agents.”

The authorities also say they’ve identified 12 people whom they suspect of being involved in the explosion.

According to investigators, the explosive device that was detonated on the bridge was hidden in plastic film rolls used for construction. In early August, authorities claim, the bomb was sent from Odesa to Bulgaria, then to Armenia, Georgia, and finally Russia.

On the morning of October 8, a freight truck exploded on the only bridge linking Russia and Crimea. The blast caused three spans of the bridge’s automobile section to collapse and multiple fuel cisterns to ignite. At least four people were killed.