A blast in the secessionist-controlled South Ossetian village of Dmenisi killed local police chief Nodar Bibilov early on July 3, the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported.

The breakaway region’s authorities said it was “a terrorist act” carried out by the Georgian secret services. The breakaway region’s Press and Information Committee said that Bibilov had also been targeted in February. He sustained slight injuries in a blast, also in Dmenisi.