2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing

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2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing
Explosion in the St. Petersburg Metro on 3 April 2017 in the tunnel between Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations. An exclamation mark highlights a defused bomb at Ploshchad Vosstaniya station.
2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing is located in Central Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing (Central Saint Petersburg)
2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing is located in European Russia
2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing
2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing (European Russia)
2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing is located in Russia
2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing
2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing (Russia)
LocationOn a Saint Petersburg Metro train between Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Coordinates59°54′59″N 30°19′07″E / 59.91639°N 30.31861°E / 59.91639; 30.31861`
Date3 April 2017 (2017-04-03)
14:40[1][2] (EEST (UTC +3))
TargetCivilians
Attack type
Suicide bombing[3]
WeaponsNail bomb[4]
Deaths15 (including the perpetrator)[5]
Injured64[6]
AssailantsAkbarzhan Jalilov[7]

On 3 April 2017, a terrorist attack using an explosive device took place on the Saint Petersburg Metro between Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations. Seven people were initially reported to have died, and seven more died later from their injuries, bringing the total to 14.[8][9][10][11][5] At least 45 others were injured in the incident.[12][13][14] The explosive device was contained in a briefcase.[12] A second explosive device was found and defused on a train at Ploshchad Vosstaniya metro station.[11] The suspected perpetrator was named as Akbarzhan Jalilov, a Russian citizen born in Kyrgyzstan.[7] It was the first terrorist attack in the history of the Saint Petersburg Metro system.

Attack

On 3 April 2017, a device containing from 200 grams (0.44 lb) to 300 grams (0.66 lb) of explosives detonated on a train going through a tunnel between the Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations of the Saint Petersburg Metro.[12][15][16] According to a statement from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the bomb was detonated on the third car of the train.[17] Eyewitnesses said the blast occurred near the door and immediately after the explosion, smoke filled the platform. Video from social media showed multiple victims on the platform and a metal door twisted due to the force of the blast.[17] Following reports of the explosion, all metro stations in Saint Petersburg were quickly closed.[12][14] In the late evening, metro services were resumed on the third, fourth, and fifth lines.[11]

A second bomb was discovered at Ploshchad Vosstaniya station; it was subsequently disarmed.[18][19] The device had ball bearings, screws, and shrapnel[4] and was hidden within a fire extinguisher containing an equivalent of about 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of TNT.[20]. On a bag with this bomb some of Djalilov’s DNA was found,[21] suggesting that he left this bag inside a train vehicle as witnessed by certain passengers.[17][11]

Aftermath

Security was heightened after the attack. Metal detectors, installed countrywide following the the site of another attack seven years previously, were all put into use (they did not function properly for several years prior). The Moscow Metro security department said they were ready to assist the Saint Petersburg Metro in case of any help. Local media reported that authorities had found suspicious packages in three Moscow metro stations, Nagatinskaja, Savelovskaya and Ugrezhskaya (CIP). Authorities later cordoned off the area.[17] The security of Pulkovo International Airport was also heightened in response to the blast.[17] A possible suspect was sighted on Metro surveillance cameras, according to unconfirmed reports.[11] The Investigative Committee of Russia said the train operator's decision to drive it to the next station helped to avoid an even higher number of casualties.

There has so far been no claim of responsibility for the attack.[22] At 16:30 local time (13:30 UTC) on 3 April 2017, the attack was recognised as an "act of terrorism" by the Investigative Committee.[2]

After the attack, dozens of taxi drivers and users of car sharing services such as Uber and Gett started driving people free of charge in the area of Saint Petersburg Ring Road, due to the whole metro system being closed and other means of public transportation overwhelmed by passengers; other drivers encouraged hitchhiking.[1]

Casualties

Victims by nationality
Country Dead
 Russia 3
 Kazakhstan[23][24] 1
 Azerbaijan[25] 1
 Belarus[26][24] 1
 Uzbekistan[26][24] 1
 Tajikistan[26][24] 1
Unknown 6
Total 14

As reported by the Russian Ministry of Health, approximately 50 people were injured, of whom 14 died (seven during the attack, seven later from their injuries).[27][28][29] Thirty-nine people were hospitalised, of whom six had critical injuries.[29] Children were among those injured.[10]

Perpetrator

A suspected perpetrator behind the attacks was identified by Kyrgyzstan and Russian intelligence services as Akbarzhon Jalilov, a 22 year-old Kyrgyz-born Russian citizen.[21][30][31] Akbarzhon was born in 1995 in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, and arrived in Moscow around 2011.[30] According to Russian newspaper Moskovskij Komsomolets, Gazeta.ru reported he had worked as a cook at a sushi bar in 2015.[17][32] while other sources claimed Jalilov worked in a garage before disappearing weeks prior to the attack.[17]

Initial reports

On 3 April 2017, investigators said they believed the attack was a suicide bombing and identified a Central Asian as the suspected perpetrator.[33] Some reports identified the suspect as a 22-year-old immigrant from Kazakhstan, but later was identified as a victim of the attack.[34][35] The suspect was later identified as a 23-year-old native of Kyrgyzstan with Russian citizenship and with links to international militant groups.[33][36] The police initially released images of two men with suspected involvement. One immediately turned himself in and proclaimed innocence and Interfax later said only one person was involved.[37][33]

Reactions

Domestic

Russian President Vladimir Putin laying flowers at the metro station
Soldiers marching down the streets of Saint Petersburg after the metro bombing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was in the city when the attack happened and pledged a thorough investigation. During an unrelated meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said they are "considering all possible causes, including terrorism." He later visited the area of the attack, which was prohibited by the Federal Protective Service due to security concerns. This information was later denied by RIA Novosti.[17][12][14] His statement was followed by Lukashenko expressing his sadness over the bombing.[14] Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin expressed his condolences to the victims of the attack and ordered the strengthening of security measures around the capital's transport infrastructure, according to the Mayor's and city government's Press Secretary Gulnara Penkova.[11] Head of the Ministry of Health Veronika Skvortsova instructed federal doctors to help doctors in St. Petersburg to assist the victims.[17]

The Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov called for the identification and punishment of the perpetrators.[11]

The All-Russian Union of Insurers said relatives of the victims will be able to receive 2,025 million rubles.[17]

A makeshift memorial was made to honour the victims of the bombing. Saint Petersburg declared three days of mourning in response to the attack. Mayor Georgi Poltavchenko, Governor of Leningrad Alexander Drozdenko, and Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the site and laid flowers to pay respect.[17]

International

Condolences and sympathies for those affected were offered by several international figures, including representatives of Belarus, China,[38] the Czech Republic,[39] Denmark,[40] France,[41] Georgia,[42] Hungary,[43][44] India,[38] Indonesia,[45] Iran,[11] Israel,[46] Malaysia,[38] Pakistan,[38] Poland,[47][48] Portugal,[49] Ukraine,[50] the United Kingdom, the United States, NATO, and the European Union.[41]

Ukraine tightened security around its metro stations in fear of an attack.[51]

Other reactions

Tel Aviv city hall building was lit with the colours of the Russian flag. In Brussels, where a similar attack took place a year earlier, the ING Marnix building near the Throne metro station was also decorated with a moving Russian flag animation.[52]

The Independent reported that some supporters of ISIL on unnamed internet forums linked the attack to Russia's support of Bashar al-Assad, and shared photos and video of people injured and killed by the blast.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "'Мы начали ехать, я увидел взорванный вагон': что писали очевидцы о взрыве в Петербурге" ['We started moving, I saw a blown up train car': what did eyewitnesses write about an explosion in Petersburg]]. TASS. ТАСС информационное агентство. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Взрыв в метро Петербурга официально признан терактом [Explosion in the Petersburg's metro officially recognised as a terrorist attack.]". Экономика сегодня. ФБА «Экономика сегодня». 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  3. ^ Denis Pinchuk. "Eleven killed in suspected suicide bombing on Russian metro train". Reuters. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b "St Petersburg Metro explosion: CCTV image of suspect emerges after at least 10 killed by 'briefcase' bomb". Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017. Another 39 injured people remain in hospital following the blast on the Russian city's subway network on Monday afternoon that is reported to have involved a shrapnel-filled device.
  5. ^ a b "В петербургской больнице скончались двое пострадавших при взрыве в метро". ria.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 3 April 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Russia Bomber Is Identified, Officials Say, as Death Toll Rises". New York Times. New York Times Company. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017. In addition to killing 14, the blast on Monday wounded 64 others, Aleksandr Rzhanenkov, a St. Petersburg official, said at a news briefing.
  7. ^ a b "St Petersburg metro bombing suspect 'from Kyrgyzstan'". BBC News Online. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Число жертв теракта в Петербурге выросло до 14 человек [Number of fatalities of the terrorist act in Petersburg has grown to fourteen people". Meduza. Meduza. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017. В результате взрыва в метро Санкт-Петербурга погибли 14 человек, сообщила министр здравоохранения России Вероника Скворцова. [In the aftermath of explosion in the metro of Saint Petersburg 14 people have died, reported by the minister of health of Russia Veronika Skvortsova]
  9. ^ "Signs of terror attack in St. Petersburg subway blast obvious — Kremlin". TASS. Saint Petersburg. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017. The Russian Investigative Committee has qualified the blast as a terrorist attack, but other versions are looked into.
  10. ^ a b MacFarquhar, Neil; Nechepureneko, Ivan. "Explosion in St. Petersburg Metro Kills at Least 10". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "Взрыв в метро Санкт-Петербурга: погибли 10 человек". BBC Russia (in Russian). 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e "St Petersburg metro explosions kill ten - media". BBC. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  13. ^ "At least 10 people may have been killed by Russia metro blast: TASS". Reuters. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  14. ^ a b c d "Explosion in St. Petersburg Metro, fatalities confirmed (GRAPHIC IMAGES)". Russia Today. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  15. ^ "В Санкт-Петербурге произошел взрыв в метро. Онлайн-трансляция" [In St. Petersburg, there was an explosion in the Metro]. RBC (in Russian). Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  16. ^ Jansen, Bart (3 April 2017). "Russian subway bombing reveals terror vulnerability". USA Today. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Взрыв в метро Санкт-Петербурга: онлайн-трансляция". MK. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  18. ^ Meyjes, Toby. "At least ten dead after huge 'nail bomb' explosion on St Petersburg metro". Metro. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  19. ^ a b "St Petersburg attacks: Isis celebrates explosions that killed 10 people". The Independent Online. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017. Isis supporters are cheering what they claim is a terror attack, and sharing images of people caught up in and killed by the blasts.
  20. ^ Lister, Tim; Burrows, Emily; Dewan, Angela. "St. Petersburg metro explosion: At least 10 dead in Russia blast". Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  21. ^ a b "Russian investigators confirm Kyrgyz-born Russian citizen was behind St Petersburg subway attack". Straits Times. SPH Digital News. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017. "The investigation identified the man who set off the bomb in the carriage of the Saint Petersburg metro. It was Akbarjon Djalilov," a statement by the committee said, adding that Djalilov's "genetic trace" was also found on a bag with a second bomb that was found at a different station.
  22. ^ "St. Petersburg metro hit by deadly blast". Deutsche Welle. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  23. ^ "Названо имя предполагаемого террориста-смертника в Санкт-Петербурге". mk.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  24. ^ a b c d "Verdächtiger Kasache ist unter den Opfern". n-tv (in German). Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  25. ^ "Azerbaijani woman confirmed dead in St. Petersburg metro blast - UPDATED". apa.az Mail. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  26. ^ a b c "St. Petersburg: Zahl der Terroropfer steigt auf 14". Die Presse (in German). Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  27. ^ "St. Petersburg Metro blast". RT. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  28. ^ "Скворцова уточнила данные о погибших в результате взрыва в Петербурге" [Skvortsova clarifies the data about casualties because of the explosion in Petersburg]. Interfax. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  29. ^ a b "St. Petersburg metro explosion: 11 dead in Russia blast". CNN. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017. Thirty-nine people have been hospitalized, six of whom had critical injuries, the health ministry said, putting the number of dead at 11.
  30. ^ a b Jamieson, Alastair (4 April 2017). "St. Petersburg Subway Bomb Suspect Named as Akbarzhon Jalilov: Reports". NBC News. Moscow: NBCUniversal. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  31. ^ Walker, Shaun (4 April 2017). "St Petersburg metro bombing suspect 'from Kyrgyzstan'". The Guardian. Moscow. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  32. ^ "Появились новые фото предполагаемого смертника из метро Петербурга". Газета.Ru. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  33. ^ a b c "St Petersburg Metro explosion: police suspect suicide bombing after at least 11 killed by underground blast". The Telegraph. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  34. ^ "Terror in St. Petersburg metro bomb: 11 dead, 45 injured". TGCOM24. Mediaset. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  35. ^ "Общественный транспорт Петербурга 4 апреля будет работать в особом режиме" [Public transport of St. Petersburg on 4 April will operate in a special mode]. Fontanka (in Russian). 4 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  36. ^ "В эпицентре взрыва в метро Петербурга нашли тело выходца из Средней Азии" [At the epicenter of the explosion in the subway Petersburg found the body of a native of Central Asia]. RIA Novosti. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  37. ^ "St Petersburg metro explosion leaves 11 dead and dozens wounded". The Guardian. London. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  38. ^ a b c d "Asian leaders extend condolences to Russia over bomb blast". Asian Correspondent. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  39. ^ "Prezident republiky zaslal kondolenční telegram ruskému prezidentovi". hrad.cz (in Czech). 3 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  40. ^ "World leaders send their sympathies to St Petersburg bombing victims' families". The Independent. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  41. ^ a b "Bombing on St Petersburg metro leaves at least 9 dead". The Independent. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  42. ^ "PM Kvirikashvili saddened by St. Petersburg metro explosions". agenda.ge. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  43. ^ "Saint Petersburg bombing – Viktor Orbán writes letter to Vladimir Putin". Website of the Hungarian Government. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  44. ^ "Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the terrorist attack in Saint Petersburg". Website of the Hungarian Government. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  45. ^ "Indonesia Condemns Russia's St. Petersburg Terror Attack". Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  46. ^ "Netanyahu says Israel stands with Russia after deadly metro attack". Jerusalem Post. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  47. ^ "Sankt Petersburg: eksplozja w metrze. Są zabici i ranni [NA ŻYWO]". Gazeta.PL (in Polish). Retrieved 3 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ "Rosja. Wybuch w metrze w Sankt Petersburguc". TVN24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 3 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ "Explosão no metro de São Petersburgo provoca vários mortos [Explosion in the subway of St. Petersburg causes several deaths]". RTP News. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  50. ^ "Ukrainian foreign minister condoles with families of people killed in St. Pete". Interfax Ukraine. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  51. ^ "Ukraine tightens security in light of St. Pete metro blast". Interfax Ukraine. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  52. ^ "'Only in exceptional cases': Europe lights up no landmarks for victims of St. Petersburg bombing". RT.

External links

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