国际英语新闻：Dagestan railway blast linked to Moscow metro attacks: official

MOSCOW, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The railway blast that derailed a cargo train in Dagestan was linked to the recent terrorist attacks that rocked Moscow downtown metro and the North Caucasian republic of Dagestan last week, a source with Russian security department disclosed Sunday.

Preliminary investigation suggested the railway explosion was a continuation of terrorist attacks by North Caucasus rebels that began on March 29, the unnamed official told the RIA Novosti news agency.

Investigation showed there were two explosions along the railway, according to the Federal Security Service (FSB).

The first explosion was caused by a device equivalent to five kg of TNT, creating a 110 by 25 centimeter crater. Another device, placed a few meters away and containing the equivalent of one kg of TNT, was intended to target the investigators, an FSB spokesperson said.

An explosion derailed eight cars of a cargo train in Russia's North Caucasian republic of Dagestan early Sunday. No casualties were reported.

The latest explosion followed the Moscow metro terrorist attack that killed 40 people and twin blasts in the Dagestani town of Kizlyar, which killed 12 people including nine police officers.

A Chechen rebel group, led by Doku Umarov, has claimed responsibility for the Moscow metro bombings. Russian security authorities believed the recent bombings were all plotted by the same group.