Deadly train derailment caused by seven kilos of TNT
A homemade bomb is responsible for Friday’s deadly train crash, according to Russian Security chief Aleksandr Bortnikov.
“Preliminary evidence suggests that it was an explosion of a homemade device, equivalent of seven kilograms of TNT,” said Russian Federal Security Service chief Aleksandr Bortnikov.
Read more
A spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee, Vladimir Markin, added some more details regarding the blast.
“We have found a 1.5-by-1-meter hole at the train crash site, and also the remains of an unidentified explosive,” he said. Markin noted that the accident, which has left 26 dead, is almost certainly an act of terror.
Russian Railways chief Vladimir Yakunin announced that there were two bombs planted on the train tracks below the ill-fated Nevsky Express.
"We can now confirm that two explosive devices went off,” Yakunin told the Vesti 24 television station. “Luckily, neither people nor the infrastructure were damaged by the second one."
He added that the second device went off at about 2 p.m. on Saturday but didn’t detonate full force.
According to the head of the Russian Interior Ministry Rashid Nurgaliev, several people are suspected to be involved in the blast. The official noted that traces at the crime scene could help in the investigation.
On Saturday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hosted a conference with ministers dealing with the crash.
“Work must be conducted in several directions – medical assistance, social support, restoration of freight and passenger links, maintaining security and finally the whole network of investigative measures,” Dmitry Medvedev said.
He also ordered a thorough investigation into the case and said that the results should be reported to him personally.
The tragedy has evoked a large response worldwide. The presidents of France and the United States have expressed condolences to the relatives of those killed in the accident. Leaders of Ukraine, Belarus and some other CIS countries have also sent their words of support to Russia.
The Nevsky Express passenger train crashed late on Friday near the town of Bologoye in the Tver Region, some 160 kilometers from the Russian capital. It was traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
Three carriages derailed in the accident; one of them was completely destroyed. At least 26 people were killed and 96 injured in the tragedy. The fate of 18 more still remains unknown.
Follow the link to read more on the story
Train bombing: Dozens killed as explosives found at site
No comments:
Post a Comment