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At least ten people have been killed in explosions that hit St. Petersburg’s metro system on Monday. Early reports indicate that at least 50 have been injured.
https://twitter.com/TC_Istihbarat/status/848885673427738625
What Happened?
Blasts in two train carriages at metro stations in St. Petersburg, Russia, killed at least ten and injured at least 50, according to emergency services. Another explosive device was later found and made safe at a station nearby.
UPDATE 12:50 P.M. ET – The Telegraph is reporting that two search warrants have been issued in relation to the St. Petersburg Metro explosion.
https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/848939841450586112
At least seven metro stations have been closed down: Victory Park, Electrosila, Moscow Gate, Frunzenskaya, Technological Institute, Sennaya Ploshchad, Gostiny Dvor. Evacuations are also under way. One report claims that at least one of the blasts involved a device filled with shrapnel. Another report says the blast was a suspected IED insive of a car at the station.
The explosion took place as the train was traveling between the stations Tekhnologichesky Institut and Sennaya Ploshchad of the St. Petersburg Metro.
Below are the first images of the suspected terrorist.
https://twitter.com/KomNewsCom/status/848920662563540992
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE6ViLNeSKQ
“According to the very first preliminary information, about 10 people were killed in the explosion,” a source told TASS, though the exact number of victims is still being established.
https://twitter.com/5tv/status/848868137051324416
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his condolences to the families of those killed in today’s attacks. He also said that all possible causes for the blasts, including terrorism, are being considered. Putin was in St. Petersburg for a meeting and a speech at the time of the blasts. It is unknown if he still intends to meet with Belarus President Alexander G. Lukashenko.
UPDATE: 9:50 A.M. – The Russian prosecutor general has reportedly labeled the explosion a terrorist attack.
https://twitter.com/BreakingNLive/status/848895593321820167
The Daily Mail is claiming that a suspected terrorist threw a backpack onto the train moments before it exploded.
https://twitter.com/MailOnline/status/848893982595743745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.westmonster.com%2F
https://twitter.com/fox5sandiego/status/848884585005850624
Local prosecutors are on the scene investigating the blasts at this time.
A spokesman for the regional department of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry told the news agency it was checking reports on the smoke in the metro. “There is a complaint about the smoke, the staff members are going to the scene,” the official said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siFjlAnmba4
According to Tass, one of the explosions took place at the Sennaya Ploshchad station, also known as Hay Square.
Hezbollah has already spoken out publicly to condemn the attacks, saying “We will stand with Russia.” At this time, no terrorist organization has taken explicit responsibility for the attack. However, pre-attack propaganda poster from ISIS has been unearthed. The image shows an ISIS fighter standing in front of the Kremlin with the caption, “Kill them where you find them,” according to the Daily Express.
https://twitter.com/NatDefFor/status/848930425066147841
Three days of mourning starting from tomorrow has been announced in St. Petersburg, according to an order issued by the city’s governor, Sergey Poltavchenko.
Sennaya Ploshchad Station
Sennaya Ploshchad is a station on the Moskovsko-Petrogradskaya Line of Saint Petersburg Metro, It opened on July 1, 1963 and includes two platforms/tracks.
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