Eight people were killed and a number of others were injured when an UAZ mini-van was blown up in an attack in the Dagestan region in Russia's North Caucasus Thursday, Russian media reported.

The RIA Novosti news agency reported that the vehicle blown up was carrying workers from the local broadcasting facility to repair a television antenna.

It quoted a police officer as saying that police officers were the intended target of the bombing.

"During the pursuit of the gang that attacked the TV relay tower, four police officers received minor injuries," the police officer said, adding that the information on casualties was being confirmed.

Earlier reports said that the vehicle carried policemen and was part of a convoy that was transporting up to 40 police officers.