MOSCOW, July 20 - RAPSI. Law enforcement authorities have detained the first suspects in the attempt to assassinate Mufti of Tatarstan in Kazan and the murder of his deputy, Vladimir Markin, Investigative Committee's spokesman, told RIA Novosti on Friday.

On Thursday morning, a car exploded in Kazan and injured Mufti of Tatarstan Ildus Fayzov. On the same day, the head of the Spiritual Muslim Board of Tatarstan, Valiulla Yakupov, was shot dead by his home. Two cases in attempted murder and murder have been initiated and united into a single proceeding.

Additionally, investigators have classed the case as an act of terrorism.

Yesterday, Eduard Abdullin, senior assistant of the Investigative Committee's regional investigative department, told RIA Novosti that investigators have identified the suspects and are now carrying out searches.