10 Dead in St Petersburg Metro explosion

At least 10 people have been killed in an attack on underground stations in St Petersburg. An explosive device was detonated on a metro train which was pulling out of  Sennaya Ploshchad station, right in the heart of the city. Other stations hit were nearby Tekhnologichesky Institut stations. Russian news agencies have reported that the explosion occurred at 2.30pm (11.30am GMT) and had injured 50 people including children. Interfax said that one of the explosive devices might have been filled with shrapnel. The impact of the explosion was such that the door of the carriage was blown out. Photographs of the scene also showed injured people lying on the ground.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said that all causes were being investigated, including terrorism.

The entire metro system as well as St Petersburg’s main airport, Pulkovo, have been closed and helicopters are evacuating the injured.

Russia has become a possible target for the Islamic State after entering the Syrian war but so far the attack has not been claimed.