The Muslim homicide bomber had links to Islamic groups. But you will be dealt with most severely if you call it Islamic terror or link the carnage to Islam.
The Interfax news agency cited an unidentified law enforcement official as saying that the suspected suicide bomber is believed to have left the larger bomb at Vosstaniya Square before blowing himself up on the train using the first bomb, which he carried in a backpack.
St Petersburg bomber’s body parts found in Metro wreckage
A Russian citizen, born in Kyrgyzstan, is believed to have been the bomber who killed 14 people on an underground train.
By Sharon Marris, News Reporter
A man from Central Asia has been identified as being behind two bombs on the St Petersburg Metro, as investigators found parts of the suspect’s body in the wreckage.
The first bomb was detonated on a train between Sennaya Square and Technological Institute, two busy stations in the centre of the Russian city on Monday afternoon.
At least 14 people were killed and dozens were injured in the suicide attack.
Security services in Kyrgystan named the bomber as Akbarjon Djalilov, who was born in the country’s second city of Osh and had Russian citizenship.
Video:Conductor films aftermath of St Petersburg blast
Russia’s anti-terror agency said that less than two hours later, a second bomb was found and deactivated at Vosstaniya Square, a station that is a major transfer point for two Metro lines and also serves the rail line to Moscow.
That bomb, which was disguised as a fire extinguisher, was filled with shrapnel and more than three times the size of the first explosive.
Image:Akbarjon Djalilov died when he blew himself up at the Metro station
The Interfax news agency cited an unidentified law enforcement official as saying that the suspected suicide bomber is believed to have left the larger bomb at Vosstaniya Square before blowing himself up on the train using the first bomb, which he carried in a backpack.
He is believed to have links to radical Islamist groups, although a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin would not comment, saying it was up to law enforcement agencies to talk about the investigation.
Image:Vladimir Putin lays flowers outside Technological Institute station
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said US President Donald Trump called Mr Putin to pass on his condolences following the attack.
In a statement, the Kremlin said Mr Trump had also asked Mr Putin to convey his support for the Russian people and that Mr Putin had thanked his American counterpart for the expression of solidarity.
A White House statement said that Mr Trump had “offered the full support of the US government in responding to the attack and bringing those responsible to justice”.
Mr Putin was among those to visit an improvised memorial near the entrance to the Technological Institute station on Monday evening.
Video:Russian President responds to blast
Earlier he told Russians that law enforcement and intelligence agencies were working to “give a full picture of what happened”.
He promised help for victims of the explosion and their families.
The UN Security Council has also condemned “in the strongest terms the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack” in Russia’s second city.
Describing the moments after the explosion, student Maria Smirnova said: “Everything was covered in smoke, there were a lot of firefighters.
“Firefighters shouted at us to run for the exit and everyone ran. Everyone was panicking.”
Investigator Svetlana Petrenko said the driver of the train saved lives by continuing on to the next stop, reducing the danger to passengers who would have had to walk along electrified tracks.
Image:An injured man is carried by emergency services following the explosion
British Prime Minister Theresa May said the bombing “shows the terrible terrorist threat we are all facing”.
“I’m very clear, as the people of the UK were after the attack in London, that we will prevail, terrorists will not win, our values will prevail,” she said on a visit to Jordan.
St Petersburg’s metro has not been hit by terrorist attacks before but transport systems in other parts of Russia have, such as a suicide attack on a bus in Volgograd in 2013 which killed six people.
Also in 2013, 34 people died after twin bombings at Volgograd train station and on a bus in the city.
