A suspected suicide bomber died and five people were injured during an attack on a police checkpoint in Russia`s North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia on Friday, a police source told RIA Novosti.

The source said that the driver of the Lada vehicle died when his car blew up near the checkpoint, not far from the republic`s largest city of Nazran.

"At the same time, heavy shooting came from a nearby graveyard," the source said.

"It`s not a fact that he was a suicide bomber," the source said. "The explosives could have been put in his car and detonated from a distance," he went on, adding that investigators were looking into the incident.

Five other people, two police officers and three civilians were injured. One of the civilians is in a serious condition.

Initial reports said the Lada driver was the only casualty.

Russia`s North Caucasus has been plagued by frequent militant attacks recently. In August, over 20 police officers were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a police station in Nazran.
sections: Accidents