Explosion rips through Moscow apartments

MOSCOW -- An explosion tore through a Moscow apartment building before dawn Sunday, injuring five people and forcing police to evacuate the rest of the 12-story building, Russian news media reported. Authorities said the blast may have been caused by a gas leak.

The explosion struck at about 4:20 a.m., destroying several apartments in the building, news agencies said. The radio station Echo of Moscow reported five people were injured.

Dozens of city buses were brought to the scene to hold the evacuees, reports said.

Security concerns have also been high in the Russian capital ahead of March 14 presidential elections, with authorities speculating that terrorists could launch attacks to disrupt the voting or tarnish incumbent President Vladimir Putin, who is expected to win.

On Friday night, a bomb exploded at a building in central Moscow that reportedly was being converted into a Jewish school. No one was injured.