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Subscribe to RSSAt least four blasts explode within minutes in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. leaving at least 27 people injured. Police believe the blasts are a terrorist attack ahead of the Euro 2012 soccer tournament. Msnbc.com's Dara Brown reports.
Updated at 10:30 a.m. ET: Four explosions within minutes rocked the center of the eastern Ukraine city of Dnipropetrovsk Friday, injuring at least 27 people in what prosecutors believe is a terrorist attack just weeks ahead of Europe's biggest soccer tournament.
At least nine children were hurt, The Associated Press reported.
The first blast occurred at a tramway stop, injuring five people, while the second injured seven people outside a movie theater, Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Yulia Yershova told The Associated Press.
She said the third blast wounded three near a railway station and a fourth blast was also heard in the city center but it was not yet clear if anybody was injured.
Along with Poland, Ukraine is to be joint host of the Euro 2012 soccer tournament between June 8 and July 1. Dnipropetrovsk is among the cities that will host major games.
Chris Cole, a 22-year-old teacher from England, told The Guardian: "There was a loud bang that blew my earphones out of my ears," he said. "The first thing I saw was a lady lying on the ground, then another lady came running off the tram screaming, holding her arm. A few people were wandering around confused."
AFP - Getty Images
A man tires to help a victim after one of the blasts in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk on Friday.
Authorities recently played down the likelihood of terror attacks during the tournament.
The English-language Ukraine Internet site Kyiv Post quoted the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as reporting that the regional prosecutor has opened a criminal case on counts of terrorism.
Al-Jazeera reported that the first explosion was caused by a bomb in a garbage bin.
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Apparently the terrorists found Ukraine on the map: "Oh look, we didn't sh....t here yet".
Actually they have set off explosive there before. Not too long ago, like just in January 2011 in Makeevka and last November in Dnepropetrovsk they put bombs in other cities. I have a feeling it won't be the last ones. They seem to be just testing thing out now. I think it could be a good place not to visit right now.
This just shows now much scum we have on this earth yet. Anyone that would do this would kill their own people to show they can do it. Strap bombs to children to kill other and use women the same way. They show absolutely no regard for human life and then they think they will go to heaven and get virgins there. That shows the sheer stupidity of these people. Not to mention the outright lack of feeling. But they will continue this type of thing till they kill each other with the explosives. Happiness is seeing a terrorist with bomb that kills him alone.
Radical Islamic terrorists coming to a town near you, too soon.
They're not radical Islamics, just Islamics.
They are known as "love" and "peace" terrorists from the religion of "love and peace," Islam.
They need to arrest all the Irish soccer hooligans in the country at the time of the bombings. They should be easy to find passed out at all the local bars
You would think they'd wait until the tournament. Guess they're trying to put the fear in them now. I dunno.
Man, get a job.
Terrorists aren't necessarily stupid. They set off the bombs ahead of time because they realized they would never escape with their lives if the city was filled with rabid European soccer fans.
A bunch of terrrorists got together to blow things up and a soccer tournament broke out!
Nope. They are stupid. They should have waited then get caught and martyred themselves. That way they could have received those virgins they all want. Only problem is no one has told them those virgins are either really old women...or guys. My guess is they're guys.
Nuns
Wow what a surprise I guess no racist comments here," like White on white crime or who cares their always killing each other." Stupid racist people save their vile despicable comments for anything that has to do with Africa. Well I will not stoop to you racist scumbags level.
My sympathies to the people whom was hurt or killed because of this vicious act of cowardliness.
Congratulations for making the first comment on this post that includes the word "racist".
Wow, you're so pure and self-righteous and politically correct. Damn, I think I'll have to put my sunglasses on just to read your posts. Have you won a prize for your sanctimony yet?
Political correctness is the last bastion of pure bigotry, like it or not.
What a completely asinine comment. And I would be careful who you call stupid when you do not know the difference between they're and their or that you should use the plural were with the plural people not the singular was. And then you have the word "cowardliness," if that even is a word when the correct word would be cowardice.
In any case, I hope they catch the SOBs responsible for these bombing. International sporting events are a great way to bring people from different countries and cultures together in peace. All these terrorists want to do is drive people apart and kill anyone who does not agree with their world view. The only good terrorist is a dead terrorists.
That's funny Marvin. So, you think there are no AFrican muslims? LOL. And putting your facebook page out there too? Pure genius.
So your going to "stoop" to name calling? LMAO
Anyone who makes comments against Islamic terrorists is a racist.
OF course, some accept "racist" comments against Assad and Iranians!
No one is even sure about who did this yet. Until they do know it's just speculation. Where are the racist comments at anyway? So far there have been a few concerning Islam, and since Muslims are from many ethnic backgrounds and skin colors it couldn't be that.
Could be international terrorists but it could also be a 'false flag' operation by the Yanukovich regime to create an atmosphere of fear and then plant evidence to blame it on his opposition, similar to what Assad's regime has done in Syria. Yanukovich is extremely unpopular in Ukraine right now due to his jailing of opposition politicians (Timoshenko and others) on phony charges as well as having a corrupt regime and a bad economy.
"could be" your hats on too tight................:)
Too many innocent people dying for someone else's beliefs. If the world would actually stand up and do something about terrorism, then the world may actually come together. But there are only a couple brave countries that try to do something about it. Trying to prevent the loss of life around the globe. While other countries treat terrorists are human beings.
How does anything get done about terrorism when there are 1.5+- billion terrorists on the planet?
One at a time.
If 1.5 billions are on one side, rest four plus billions are on the opposite side!
Even among 1.5 billions, about 20 percent of Shiites are infidels like us!
But the major and equally bad problems are: many in the US, Britain and other nations are guided by the Saudis, oil companies, extremist Jewish lobbies and their lobbyists making noises on some "bad" terrorists and looking the other way when it comes to "good" terrorists!
Fountainheads of world Islamic radicalism and terrorism problems (80 percent) are due to Saudis and Pakis.
These very Saudis and Pakis are allies on war terror!!!
Pray- You have to take the gloves off and just plain eliminate them. They only bring death and mayhem. These are people that you can not talk to. They just plainly want too much and still want to beat down their own kind. If you disagree with them, they only want to kill you. Not talk it out. They want power. They want fear. But every country that values human life needs to step up to the plate. The US and Coalition can not do it if other countries ( Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, ect... ) continue to help the terrorists. Pakistan was plain caught when we killed Bin laden. They may deny it, but fact is fact. Look at the area he was living in. The whole compound was strange but no one did nothing. No questions.
For years India had complained to the world about Pakistan's support for jihadists to cause mayhem in India but the US government ignored the issue and kept nurturing the dictators in the name of strategic benefits. But now that the US is on the receiving end of Pakistan's double dealing we are willing to admit that India had a point all along!
More likely the result of Russian intelligence made to look like a terrorist attack. Most likely one more hard lesson from Russia for those who no longer tow the Party line.
Condolences to those affected. We take for granted the security we enjoy here in the states. I have a feeling this is about to come to an end though. Why so much hate and bloodshed? Is this about a game? Or does it run deeper? We are all brothers no matter our race, heritage, culture or skin color. And Marvin Young, why bring race into this conversation? Seems to me you are the one casting the first stone so I would call you the bigot here. This did not occur in Africa. Don't get anyone started on the subject because it probably won't be pretty.
9 children out of 27,no excuse to take the innocent .
Yeah, but it probably wasn't Muslims, because Islam is the Religion of Pieces, um, er, Peace, yeah, that's it.
Terrorists operate all over the world, come from many different socio-economic backgrounds, and use religion, politics, and social causes as their cover. There is no blueprint to profile a terrorist. As far as anyone knows this could be anyone, so until more facts come to light maybe holding off on speculation/jokes might be best.
I thought the opposing factions of Ukraine, the Islamic "Groups" and other "groups" also loved the Beautiful Game. Couldn't they just "Park it "for a couple weeks and let the Euro be played?
Just saying....
so which one do you think will do more damage? these attacks or the inevitable riots that seam to always follow soccer games?
riots
Good post Archie! I wouldn't call Marvin a bigot though. He sounds like a very frustrated individual, as I am at times. You're right though: the less said about racism, the better! We've had too much of that lately.
I really hate people who fight like this! It's not even fighting. It's an act of cowardice! You can't confront someone face to face and go toe to toe, so you have sneak one in and hurt and kill people who nothing to do with your bulsh!t cause!!! But still I'm "TryinNot2Hate"
I still don't understand how killing kids and grannies is supposed to make the rest of us recognize or agree with their causes?
I don't think they are trying to convert us, rather defeat us. This was an attempt to harm the area economically by discouraging people from attending a major event.
They didn't specifically say that it was Islamist terrorists, but what other group of militants today, for the most part, would terrorize innocent people before a soccer match. It's not about the game, but more about power and control. It's too bad that the religious leaders don't vehemently speak against these attacks when Islam is supposed to be a peaceful religion. Their mission is to conquer all regardless of what the cost is.
I too fear that it's only a matter of time when these become common occurrences here. We need to stop these stupid wars believing that it's better to fight them there. Anyone with half a brain should be able to see the warnings as we've already prevented some car bombings and other attacks. We need all the money and vigilance to fight them here, and forget about racial profiling.
ISLAM is a CULT not a religion. Just as the KKK or the "NEW" Black Panthers who are actually Muslims using the Black Panther name as a deceitful cover, are cults. These CULTS are all based on wanting control and dominion over people. These kinds of people are worse than sick, they are evil to the core.
Wow.....
These were probably either amateur attacks or not necessarily meant to kill. Rather the goals was to scare and disrupt, or create a precedent for a certain purpose. As of now, there have been no reports of deaths. Perhaps, trying to show how the country is unsafe before the Euro2012. Probably not Islamists. There are enough local idiots. Wouldn't rule out Russian secret agencies (who else would have interest in Ukraine with that kind of blow-things-up inclinations). Islamists generally don't care about Ukraine, not sure if many know where it's on the map.
Boy o boy ......it's gonna be pretty hard to pull off the Olympics this summer ....Look out London ...Look out ..
what a cowardly act ! very shame full !!!!!!!!!! so upsetting ! I hope the ones that set the bombs are found and killed !!!
ahh here we go again.... repeat... radical male muslim extremists.
Or maybe it's soccer fans being disrputive....
hey people . there another blast in Syria that our media forgot to mention . Al Qaeda like attack , oh no , sorry we can not mention that , then people might know that Al Qaeda in Syria and we and NATO and the Rich ass Saudis and Qataris ( Al Qaeda supporters and lovers ) . supporting the rebels in Syria but its not the rebels , Hell Assad so bad , he is even killing his supporters, Our Media getting so bad they no room to talk about anybody else , because they more crooked than anybody , its a shame on our politicians, our media ,and all these so called allies ,
How the animals communicate with us whilest we define them as lower and stupid whilest eating their flesh and blood and how the desire of them is to avoid beengs like the article speaks of to act in such terrors!
Nothin world war 3 wouldn't cure.
There are probably 1000 attacks a day from muslim extremists in 50 countries for 50 different causes from Sudan, Yemen , Khazakstan, East Timir, Philipines, Thailand and on and on and on yet i'm surprised no one has yet come to the defense of the religion of love and peace. They used McVeigh for 20 years to show it wasn't only muslims who were terrorists now they have sgt. Bale. That should carry them another 20 years.
Ukrainian President Viktor Janukovitsh calls these 4 bomb blasts terrorist attacks. All the bombs were put inside garbage cans (big ones)1st blast before noon at tramway station-13 wounded 2nd blast little later near a school- 11 wounded (incl.9 schoolchildren)3rd blast at railroad station -3 wounded 4th- noone injured.These bomb blasts occurred in the eastern Ukrainian city (one of the biggest)DNEPROPETROVSKI. Previous President is JULIA TIMOSHENKO- who was sentenced for 7 yrs imprisonment for misuse of power (she bought natural gas from Russia and signed contracts) Ukraine SSR was part of Soviet Union until the breakup of USSR.Julia Timoshenko is from Dnepropetrovski and the Soccer EM Games is supposed to occur in Dnepropetrovski. EU is demanding that Timoshenko be freed frpm prison since EU considers her imprisonment to be political- right now she is on hunger strike. These bomb blasts have nothing whatsoever to do with muslim extrememists- it has more to do with political climate.