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2nd LD: Russia starts investigation into St. Petersburg metro explosion

Xinhua, April 3, 2017 Adjust font size:

Russia's Investigative Committee (IC) opened a criminal case on the explosion in the metro of St. Petersburg on Monday, an official statement released by the IC said.

An explosion of an unknown explosive device took place around 14:40 local time in a train carriage on the runway between the metro stations Technological Institute and Sennaya Ploshchad (Square) in St. Petersburg.

According to Russian Health Minister, at least 10 people were killed and 37 more injured in the blast. At least 10 death tolls and 50 injuries were previously reported by Russian media.

"Despite the fact that the criminal case has been launched under Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code (terrorist act), the investigators will probe other potential causes of the incident," IC's spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said.

According to the statement, a group of experienced investigators and criminologists from the central office of the Investigative Committee was sent to St. Petersburg. Initial investigative actions are being carried out.

The prosecutor's office in St. Petersburg has also begun an investigation in connection with the explosion. The prosecutor of the city Sergei Litvinenko has already arrived at the scene to coordinate the actions of law enforcement agencies, according to a statement from the Prosecutor General's of Russia Office.

"We will do everything we can to clarify all the points that contributed to the commission of the terrorist act, so that this does not happen again in the future," TASS quoted Representative of the Prosecutor General's office Alexander Kurennoy as saying.

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russian law enforcement agencies are working to determine circumstances of the explosions, and all possible causes are being considered, including terrorism.

No Chinese citizens have been reported in the casualties so far. The Chinese embassy and consulate in Russia are further verifying relevant information.

All subway stations had been closed at 3:40 p.m. local time (12:40 GMT) in the second largest city of Russia, and an evacuation was underway. Endit