15:47 (local time)
The National Antiterrorist Committee (NAC) reported on the deaths and injuries of the explosion in the metro of St. Petersburg. “Today around 14:40 Moscow time, an explosion of an unknown explosive device occurred in a train carriage on the runway between the metro stations Technological Institute and Sennaya Ploshchad in St. Petersburg, resulting in deaths and injuries,” the NAC said.
15:47
Federal medical institutions will provide all the necessary assistance after the explosions in the metro in St. Petersburg, said an official representative of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
15:43
Russian President Vladimir Putin expects that the investigation will soon find out the causes of the explosion in the St. Petersburg metro. According to the head of state, various versions are currently being considered – both domestic and criminal, connected with the manifestation of terror. “The reasons for the explosion are unknown, so it’s too early to talk about it, the investigation will show,” Putin said, starting a meeting with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko. “Naturally, we always consider all options – both domestic and criminal, primarily manifestations of a terrorist nature.” Let’s see, the investigation will soon provide all the answers to what happened, “the president said.
15:43
All metro stations in St. Petersburg are closed – underground.
photo RT
It is worth noting that this attack occurred less than an hour after an attempted terrorist attack against the Russian Embassy in Damascus at 14.00 (contradictory report yet to be confirmed) (Damascus and Moscow are on the same time zone).
At around 14:00 local time, terrorists, belonging to the group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham started to fire mortars and rockets towards the Russia Embassy building in Al Mazraa district of Damascus, Syria’s capital city.
About 20 shells are rockets are said to have been fired, none, however, hit the target. There are no reports on casualties either.
In a response, Russian Air Force launched intense strikes on Hayat Tahrir Al Sham positions in Jobar, located in the eastern countryside of Damascus.
The Fort Russ report is unconfirmed. It is not corroborated by other news agencies. No targets were actually hit according to the report.
agencies, Michael Werbowski reporting from Moscow
