Russian Train Crash Caused by Explosive

Rescue workers at the scene of an overturned car of a Moscow-St. Petersburg commuter passenger train which crashed near the village of Uglovka, Novgorod region, about 400 km northwest of Moscow. Photo by BGNES

Russian intelligence officially announced Saturday the crash of the Russian express train was caused by a bomb blast, BBC reports.

The Moscow – St. Petersburg Nevsky Express derailed around 9:30 pm Friday near the village of Uglovka about 200 miles north of Moscow.

Russia's federal investigative committee issued a statement that investigators found "elements of an explosive device" at the scene while BBC quotes a senior intelligence official saying a bomb had derailed the locomotive.

The Head of Russia's Domestic Intelligence Service, Alexander Bortnikov, had notified Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that a bomb made with seven kg of trinitrotoluene (TNT) had been detonated.

The Russian Railroads already declared they will pay over RUB 35 the families of the deceased (RUB 500 000 each) and the injured (RUB 100 000 each).

Russian officials say the fatalities are 26 while 18 are missing. More than 90 are listed in hospitals. Latest reports inform the train had 653 passengers and 20 crew members.

The Russian media outlet Gazetta.ru reports that a member of the Movement against Illegal Immigration said he is responsible for the incident and the attack was conducted in the name of the far-right, nationalist Russian Combat 18. Gazetta.ru, however, points out that the authenticity of the statement remains unclear.

The Bulgarian Embassy in Moscow had not received information about Bulgarians being among the passengers on the ill-fated train.

In 2007, a bomb on the same line derailed a train, injuring nearly 30 passengers.

 

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!