Two men were detained in southern Russia on accusations of shipping a mail delivery loaded with explosives that blinded a local education official and killed her elderly mother.
The Rostov Region branch of the Investigative Committee did not release the suspects’ names, but said in a statement on Saturday that they were Rostov-on-Don residents aged 27 and 58.
The parcel containing explosives worth 120 grams of TNT was disguised as a gift for Teacher’s Day, celebrated in Russia on Sept. 1. It was opened by the official’s 63-year-old mother, who was killed in the blast.
The 40-year-old official and her son, aged five, sustained injuries, media reported earlier, without releasing their names. The official went blind because of the blast, Lifenews.ru tabloid said.
Investigators identified the suspects by tracking the courier, who received the parcel directly from them, Lifenews.ru said.
The duo pleaded guilty, saying they spent half a year hatching the plan over unspecified conflicts with the official. They face life sentence over the blast.