YEREVAN. – According to preliminary information, the suspect in Monday night’s bus explosion in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan was planning to blow up his relatives.

Sona Truzyan, adviser to chairman of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that it was found out that the subscriber of the mobile phone card, which was found at the scene of the blast, had grievances with his relatives on domestic issues, and he planned to harm them by way of an explosive.

Earlier, the Investigative Committee reported that, among other objects that are crucial in the respective criminal case, a mobile phone card was also discovered at the scene of the blast.

The identity of the subscriber of this card was determined. He is an Armenian citizen, and twice-convicted. A Trinitrotoluene (TNT)-type of explosive material, detonators, and various types of electrical equipment were found during the search in his residence on Tuesday.

Elements and traces of TNT were also found in the bus and on the confiscated samples, and this was substantiated by the preliminary expertise conclusion.

The blast had occurred in a public transport bus.

The explosion was so powerful that it was heard from several kilometers, and windows were broken in nearby buildings.

There are two casualties. One of them has been identified, and work is underway ascertain the identity of the other victim.  

There are eight injured, they are Armenian citizens, and they have been hospitalized.

A criminal case has opened, and several examinations have been commissioned into this incident.