The Ukrainian official (black shirt) detonated a grenade during the meeting, injuring dozens of people. Photo cut from video/The Daily Beast
The official is a local councilor and the meeting he attended took place at the Keretsky Village Council in the Zakarpattia region, Western Ukraine on Friday, December 15, and was broadcast live, The Daily Beast. reported.
Ukraine’s National Police said 26 people were injured – including six seriously – when a Deputy of the Keretsky Village Council in the Zakarpattia region detonated two grenades. According to Ukrainska Pravda, authorities were informed about the incident by a woman who was watching the meeting livestreamed online.
The incredibly heartbreaking video shows a man wearing dark clothes entering the room where a council meeting is taking place. He then took two grenades from his coat pocket and shouted something as he swung them onto the floor of the room – where dozens of people were sitting in a meeting. Loud noises can be heard as the man grabs the grenades and calmly drops them on the floor. Then there was a series of three explosions mixed with screams.
The video continues to show several people trying to flee the smoke-filled room. Others, wounded, remained on the floor, covered in blood. The video ends as others enter the room and try to help the injured.
Police initially said the man who detonated the grenade “died as a result of the explosion”, while 11 others were injured, but later issued an update saying doctors were “taking measures resuscitate” the perpetrator and 26 people were injured.
Authorities said investigations have now been opened under provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine related to acts of terrorism as well as the illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives.
The press service of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that the agency has begun looking into the case. “Urgent measures are being taken to find out all the details of the crime. In particular, witnesses and victims of the event as well as the motives of the grenade thrower are being determined,” SBU said.