SARAJEVO CANTON INTERIOR MINISTRY ISSUES STATEMENT ON SCHOOL BLAST

BLAST $ SARAJEVO, Oct 11 (Hina) - The Sarajevo cantonal interior ministry said on Saturday evening that the last night's explosion in front of the Roman Catholic school in Sarajevo was caused by a time bomb assembled out of a military mine according to first results of the investigation into the incident. The explosive device was brought to the spot of the blast in a dark bag. According to a statement of the cantonal ministry, this and previous explosions seem to be interlinked and by comparison of the current results of the investigation it can be supposed with reason that the same terrorist group is responsible for recent bomb attacks in the Bosnian capital. Last night the explosive device was placed in front of the entrance door of the kitchen of the school centre. Before the explosion, a policeman, in charge of securing the school, saw the explosive device by the staircase, and measures aimed at the protection of residents and nearby buildings were taken immediately after that, the statement read. The device went off shortly before experts arrived to remove it. An on-the-spot investigation was conducted by a judge of the Sarajevo cantonal court, in the presence of the cantonal and federal police and the International Police (IPTF) and Stabilisation Force (SFOR) members, the statement added. (hina) mš 112049 MET oct 97