This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21666166
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Bolshoi dancer Dmitrichenko held over Russia acid attack | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A ballet soloist and two other people have been detained by police investigating an acid attack on the Bolshoi Ballet's artistic director, Russia's interior ministry has said. | |
Sergei Filin's eyesight was damaged when a masked attacker threw sulphuric acid in his face in January. | |
Dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko and another man suspected of carrying out the attack were being held, police said. | |
The third person was reported by Russian news agencies to be a driver. | |
The chauffeur was later named as Andrei Lipatov. | |
Russian news agencies reported that police said that 35-year-old Yuri Zarutsky was suspected of throwing the acid. | |
Infighting | |
Mr Dmitrichenko's flat was searched by Moscow police on Tuesday before he was confirmed as being detained. | |
The dancer, who has been with the troupe since 2002, has been performing the lead role in Sergei Prokofiev's Ivan The Terrible. | |
A spokeswoman for the Bolshoi Theatre, speaking before Mr Dmitrichenko was detained, said the company was hopeful that the crime would be solved. | |
Katerina Novikova said she did not know of any dispute between the dancer and Mr Filin, Reuters reports. | |
The mid-January attack shocked the arts world. It came after a period of infighting at the Bolshoi, one of Russia's most prestigious ballet companies. | |
Mr Filin was released from hospital in Moscow last month for follow-up treatment in Germany. He will have further plastic surgery and a lengthy convalescence. | |
The 42-year-old was badly burned during the attack, which happened in the street as he returned to his home in Moscow late at night. | |
It appears the assailant called out to the artistic director by name, then splashed him before fleeing from the scene. | It appears the assailant called out to the artistic director by name, then splashed him before fleeing from the scene. |
A security camera apparently captured grainy footage of the event. | A security camera apparently captured grainy footage of the event. |
The artistic director said later he was certain who was behind the attack, but would only speak after an announcement by investigators. | The artistic director said later he was certain who was behind the attack, but would only speak after an announcement by investigators. |
He argued the aim of the attack had been to remove him from his post, adding that he had long been the target of threats. | He argued the aim of the attack had been to remove him from his post, adding that he had long been the target of threats. |
Police have questioned several Bolshoi employees as potential witnesses. | Police have questioned several Bolshoi employees as potential witnesses. |
They are treating the attack as a premeditated act of grievous bodily harm, motivated by Mr Filin's professional activities. | They are treating the attack as a premeditated act of grievous bodily harm, motivated by Mr Filin's professional activities. |
German doctors think they can restore some of Mr Filin's sight, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Moscow. | German doctors think they can restore some of Mr Filin's sight, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Moscow. |
A spokeswoman for the Bolshoi said they hoped he would return to the company for their trip to London this summer, our correspondent adds. | A spokeswoman for the Bolshoi said they hoped he would return to the company for their trip to London this summer, our correspondent adds. |