Eleven people die in blast on St. Petersburg metro
At least 45 injured
Second explosive device made safe
Government treating incident as a terror attack
A suicide bomber is suspected
Blast coincides with Putin visit to city
The explosion on the St Petersburg metro sent people rushing in all directions most trying to get out of harms way.
Video published on social media shows the aftermath of the blast.
Eyewitnesses caught up in the horror describe people crying, others covered in blood. Some had awful injuries others realised they’d had a lucky escape.
“When I turned back and looked there was a huge number of people lying there, there were dead bodies. It was scary. And when we left they took out several people covered in blood. (There was) a woman, her whole face and nose – all of it was a large, massive wound. I was deafened and that’s why I am speaking so slowly,” said one woman.
BREAKING NEWS – Explosion at St Petersburg Metro, Russia – Witnesses say that a blast has taken place. Source: trusy_gebbelsa pic.twitter.com/lttXFTVRfd— TBU NEWS (TBUNEWS) April 3, 2017
Soon after the blast happened ambulances and fire engines were on the scene and police cordoned off the area.
“I checked those who were in a stable condition. Even in that situation, people tried to pull together, help and motivate each other to get out of that hell quicker,” said a male commuter.
Other video showed people rushing along the platform trying to open the train carriage doors to help the injured passengers out.
The explosion happened at around 2.40 pm local time, well away from the daily rush hour. Small comfort that its impact could have been far worse.
Three days of mourning have been announced by the authorities in the city of St. Petersburg.
