World News | Monday, April 3, 2017 | 10:12PM CET
BREAKING: Metro blast in St. Petersburg leaves 10 dead, 37 injured
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The blast took off the door of a train in St Petersburg
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The blasts hit Sennaya Ploschad and Tekhnologichesky Institute stations in St Petersburg
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A map of the St Petersburg metro highlighting the affected stations
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Pictures showed people being evacuated in Russia
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A victim of this morning's blast in the St Petersburg metro
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Chaos on the streets after this morning's explosion in St Petersburg
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Passengers were seen stumbling through smoke in the metro station
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Emergency services rushed to the two metro stations in St Petersburg
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Debris was seen strewn all over Tekhnologichesky Institut station
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A second suspect device at the scene of the explosion
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A defused bomb at the scene of the explosion
BREAKING: Metro blast in St. Petersburg leaves 10 dead, 37 injured
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| People lying on the floor after a bomb blast in central St. Petersburg |
AN EXPLOSION in between two St Petersburg metro stations has killed 10 people and injured 47 more in what investigators believe was a terror attack.
Reported explosion takes place in Russian Metro
Those killed by the blast in between Sennaya Ploschad station and Tekhnologichesky Institute station include children, local media reported.
The country's health minster confirmed 10 people have died and 47 have been injured by the blast right in the centre of St Petersburg.
There was initial confusion over how many devices had exploded, with two being cited, however emergency services then confirmed it was one blast in between the two stations.
A second device was later discovered at Vosstaniya Square, another station. It has since been made safe.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin said in a statement: “The causes are not clear, so it is premature to speak of this. The investigation will reveal.
“However, obviously we are always considering all options - technical and criminal, first of all, manifestations of a terrorist nature.”
The Russian prosecutor's office have since confirmed they are treating the incident as a terror attack.
Live images: Terror attack at St. Petersburg Metro station
Mon, April 3, 2017Emergency services have confirmed it was one blast in between the two stations
Injured people were pictured lying bleeding on a platform as passengers and emergency services rushed to help them amid a flurry of smoke at 2.30pm local time (12.30pm GMT).
Passengers were immediately evacuated from the stations, the metro company said.
The door of a train was seen blown to smithereens. Distuburbing photos showed trails of blood leading from the destroyed carriage.
The explosive device was left in the carriage in a briefcase, according to Russia news agency Interfax. They added the orgnaiser of the attack had been captured on CCTV.
Images purporting to show a man wanted in connection with the attack have been released by Russian newspapers.
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The explosive device is believed to have been rigged with shrapnel and 200grams of TNT.
Russian health minister Veronika Skvortsova said: “"The number of victims stands at 47 at this point. Seven were killed at the site, one died while being transported to a hospital, and 39 were hospitalised. Two of the hospitalised later died from blast injuries.”
Mr Putin said: "I want to express words of the most sincere regret, sympathy to relatives of those killed and injured. I have already talked to the heads of special services, with the FSB director. Law enforcement agencies and special services are working, they will do everything in order to reveal the causes of what happened."
Senator Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the Russian upper house of parliament's Defence Committee, said the timing of the explosion may be linked to President Vladimir Putin's visit to St Petersburg.
He said: "The choice of the place and the timing of these blasts is not accidental, the president of Russia is in [Saint Petersburg], the media forum is taking place there, there are many journalists."
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British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson Tweeted his shock at the incident.
He said: "Horrified by news of explosion in St Petersburg. My sympathies are with the victims and their families."
The nationalities of the victims has not yet been disclosed.
The UK Foreign Office said: "We are liaising with Russian authorities following explosions on the St Petersburg metro.
"Our sympathies are with those affected and their loved ones."
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Witnesses have described their horror at experiencing the blasts.
Alexander told state news agency Sputnik: "I saw people being carried from the subway. This was horrible."
Police have closed all stations in the western Russian city and 17 ambulance crews are treating the injured.
All other transport systems in the city are free to use for the rest of the day.
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A statement from the metro company, said: "The entrance and exit to Tekhnologichesky Institut and Sennaya Ploshchad stations are closed, the trains are running without stopping.
"There is an evacuation of passengers."
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President Vladimir Putin has been informed of the incident in Russia's second largest city where he was meeting with Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
He said the cause is not clear and he was considering all possibilities, including terrorism.
The Russian leader expressed his condolences and said he had spoken to the heads of the security services.
He added: "The city authorities, and, if required, the federal authorities, will take all necessary measures to support the families of those killed and those injured."
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Moscow's metro system has also been shut down as a precaution, while the rest of Russia in on high alert.
The US Embassy in Russia has expressed its condolences.
A tweet in Russian, said: "Shocked and saddened by explosions in St Pete and the resulting deaths and injuries.
"Our hearts go out to victims and families."
The hashtag #PrayForStPetersburg is now trending on Twitter as hundreds of people across the globe express their sympathy and shock.
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This is the first explosion on a Russian train since December 2013 when a suicide bomber killed 18 people and injured 44 at Volgograd-1 station in the city of Volgograd.
Russia has been the target of attacks by Chechen militants in past years. Chechen rebel leaders have frequently threatened further attacks.
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At least 38 people were killed in 2010 when two female suicide bombers detonated bombs on packed Moscow metro trains.
