RUSSIA IN MOURNING AFTER BLAST
11 killed, dozens hurt on train in St. Petersburg
A bomb blast on a St. Petersburg subway train Monday killed 11 people, injured dozens more and sent Russian authorities scrambling to increase security at transportation hubs across the nation.
Another bomb was later defused at a busy subway station, Interfax reported, raising fears the threat was not over.
A manhunt was underway for two suspects, the news agency said.
President Vladimir Putin, who was visiting Russia’s second- largest city at the time, offered condolences to the families of the victims and promised a quick and thorough investigation.
“Law enforcement agencies and special services ... will do everything to provide a full assessment on what has happened,” Putin said.
Metro stations across the city were evacuated following the midafternoon blast. Photos and video posted on social media from the scene showed a smokefilled platform, a damaged subway train and people lying on the ground.
The National Anti- Terrorism Committee said the blast appeared to have been caused by “an unidentified explosive device.” Aleksandr Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, said an act of terrorism was suspected.
The city’s system serves about 2 million riders per day. The explosion took place near the Sennaya Ploshchad station, but the train continued on to the Technological Institute station. Bastrykin said the train’s driver saved lives by keeping the train moving to the platform, allowing for a prompt evacuation.
St. Petersburg resident Leonid Chaika was nearby when the blast occurred. “I saw a lot of smoke, a crowd making its way to the escalators, people with blood ... on their clothes, bloody faces,” Chaika told Reuters. “Many were crying.”
Authorities tightened security at critical transport facilities. Security was increased in Moscow’s subway system, which carries more than 9 million riders per day, and the Federal Air Transport Agency said airlines and airports also were taking additional measures. The city also declared three days of mourning.
Russia is no stranger to subway attacks. Terrorist strikes in Moscow’s transit system in 2004 and 2010 each killed at least 40 people. Both attacks were linked to rebels from Chechnya. No one immediately claimed responsibility for Monday’s blast.
“This might not be the end of it,” observed Anthony Roman, a global riskmanagement expert. “The next week or so could be a high- risk period.”