Russia: At least 10 killed in subway blast

An explosion in St. Petersburg’s metro system, which has the marks of a terror attack, killed 10 and wounded some 50. 

An explosive device exploded in St. Petersburg’s metro system on Monday, killing at least 10 people, including women and children, and wounding at least 50.

Some reports say two explosions occurred. According to others, the explosive devices were packed with shards or metal fragments, meant to amplify the devices’ lethality.

Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee said an unidentified explosive device went off on a train that was traveling between two stations. It also announced that security will be tightened at all critical transport facilities following the blast.

“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,” the metro said in a statement.

Social media users posted photographs from a subway station in the city center, showing people lying on the floor and a train with a mangled door nearby.

St. Petersburg’s metro system is considered the main transportation method in the city.

President Vladimir Putin, who was in the city at the time of the attack, offered his condolences to the families of the victims.

Maxim Liksutov, Moscow’s deputy mayor, announced that authorities have tightened security on Moscow’s subway after the blast in St. Petersburg.

Netanyahu Sends Condolences

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to Putin and to the bereaved families.

“On behalf of the Government of Israel, I send condolences to President Putin and to the families of those who were murdered, following today’s bombing on the St. Petersburg subway,” he said in a statement. The citizens of Israel stand alongside the Russian people at this difficult time.”

Russia’s security services have been warning about pending Islamic terror attacks in the country, especially in the wake of the country’s war on the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS). The Russians have thwarted several planned attacks as well as killing Islamic terrorists operating inside the country.

By: World Israel News Staff
AP contributed to this report.