Explosion At US Embassy In Ukraine After Device Thrown Inside Compound In “Terrorist Act”

Shortly after midnight local time on Thursday, an unknown attacker threw a device in the U.S. embassy compound in Ukraine’s capital Kiev which exploded. Nobody was injured, according to Reuters. Authorities have called the incident a terrorist act.

Authorities in Kiev said in a statement that the incident occurred at 12:05 a.m. local time, and occurred at the U.S. Embassy compound in the Shevchenko district.

The small blast didn’t cause any injuries or structural damage

“It was determined that an unknown assailant threw an unidentified explosive device onto the grounds of the diplomatic mission. Criminal proceedings have been initiated under Art. 258 (Terrorist Act) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,” the statement read, according to The Mirror. The U.S. Department of State issued a travel warning in 2016 for U.S. citizens in Ukraine according to which “the situation in Ukraine is unpredictable and could change quickly.”

Police sent a rapid response unit and explosives experts to the attack site and are still hunting the terrorist.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, and the investigation has been handed over to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which is responsible for investigating crimes including terror acts.

Police investigate at the scene of the explosion on the embassy’s grounds

The device exploded after being thrown over a security fence

A guard stands in front of the embassy in north-west Kiev

An spokesperson for the embassy told Ukrainian News that operations were not disrupted and officials were cooperating with the investigation. The embassy was open to visitors as usual this morning, local media reported.