Blast injures 17 policemen in Dagestan

Seventeen policemen were wounded after an explosive device went off on a highway in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, a police spokesman said.

The explosive device went off on Wednesday night on the highway between the city of Kaspiisk and the republic's airport, reports Ria Novosti.

"They [the policemen] were all near their cars and were inspecting vehicles passing on the highway," the spokesman said, adding that the wounds were caused mainly by splinters and the lives of the policemen are not in danger.

A group of investigators worked at the scene of the blast all through the night and the police are looking for suspects, he said.