Explosion in Rivne police: investigation checks negligent storage of weapons

After an explosion in the building of the district police department in Rivne, as a result of which a police officer was killed and three more law enforcement officers were injured, investigators opened criminal proceedings. The case is being investigated on the fact of negligent storage of firearms or ammunition.

The police of the Rivne region reported this on the evening of August 31.

The explosion occurred during the day in the premises of one of the district police units in Rivne. According to official data, one police officer was killed, and three more were injured.

After the incident, an investigative-operational group, specialists and emergency services were working at the scene. Law enforcement officers conducted initial investigative actions and established the circumstances of the explosion.

Later, the police clarified that information about the incident was entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations on the fact of negligent storage of weapons.

This qualification is provided for by Article 264 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. It concerns negligent storage of firearms or ammunition, if this caused the death of a person or other grave consequences. The maximum punishment under this article provides for up to three years of imprisonment.

At the same time, the opening of proceedings under this article does not yet mean that the investigation has finally established the cause of the explosion or a specific culprit. Law enforcement officers continue to ascertain the origin of the explosive device or ammunition, the circumstances of its storage and the events immediately preceding the explosion.

The police also do not yet disclose the identities of the deceased and injured employees, the nature of their injuries and their current condition.

Immediately after the incident, law enforcement officers reported only about the explosion itself, the number of dead and injured. Information about the start of criminal proceedings became the first official clarification regarding the direction of the investigation.

Based on materials from: Rivne region police, Criminal Code of Ukraine