Europe

Ten injured in supermarket explosion in St Petersburg

Investigative agency says device containing 200g of explosives blew up in storage area

Emergency Ministry members and policemen outside a supermarket after an explosion in St Petersburg, Russia, today. Photograph: Anton Vaganov/Reuters

Wed Dec 27 2017 - 20:18

At least 10 people have been injured by an explosion at a supermarket in St Petersburg, Russian officials say.

The Investigative Committee, the nation's top investigative agency, said a device containing 200g of explosives blew up at a storage area for customers' bags on Wednesday.

No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion at a branch of the Perekrestok supermarket chain in the city’s northwest Kalininsky district.

Emergency services vehicles outside a supermarket after an explosion in St Petersburg, Russia, today. Photograph: Anton Vaganov/Reuters

Alexander Klaus, chief of the local branch of the Investigative Committee, said 10 people were in hospital with injuries. A criminal investigation has been launched.

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Viktoria Gordeyeva, who walked past the supermarket shortly after the explosion, said people were afraid to enter other stores in the area.

“There was no panic, but people were reluctant to enter a nearby drug store and a grocery store,” she said.

Bombings thwarted

Russian president Vladimir Putin telephoned US president Donald Trump earlier this month to thank him for a CIA tip that helped thwart a series of bombings in St Petersburg earlier this month.

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, said seven suspects linked to the Islamic State group were arrested in connection to the alleged plot.

The Kremlin said the arrested suspects had planned to bomb St Petersburg's Kazan Cathedral and other crowded sites.

In April, a suicide bombing of St Petersburg’s subway left 16 people dead and wounded more than 50. – Press Association

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