Explosive device goes off near railroad in Dagestan

An identified explosive device went off on early Saturday morning near a railroad in the Kizlyarsky district of Dagestan in Russia's North Caucasus, a police spokesman said.

According to Ria Novosti, shortly after the blast a group of law enforcers, who arrived at the scene of the explosion, came under fire from unknown suspects.

"One of the law enforcers was wounded in a shootout and hospitalized," the spokesman said.

Police works at the scene of the explosion and the degree of the damage caused to the railway is being clarified.

Terrorist attacks and shootouts with police are common in Russia's troubled North Caucasus republics, especially in Dagestan and neighboring Chechnya and Ingushetia.

The Kremlin has vowed to clamp down on militant groups while stepping up efforts to boost the local economy.