Explosion hits St. Petersburg metro

By Diyar Guldogan and Hakan Ceyhan Aydogan

ANKARA/MOSCOW (AA) - At least nine people were killed and 20 others injured Monday when an explosion hit the St. Petersburg metro, Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee (NAK) said.

According to the NAK, the blast tore through a train at 2.40 p.m. local time (1140GMT) as it was traveling between Sennaya Ploshchad and Technological Institute stations.

The initial reports had put the death toll at 10, adding 50 others were injured during the incident.

An explosive device has been found and deactivated at Vosstaniya Ploshchad metro station, the NAK added.

President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and injured during the explosion, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Putin instructed the city authorities to take "all necessary" measures to help the families of the victims.

He said an investigation would "soon" determine the cause of the explosion, adding various causes were being considered, including a terror attack.

Aleksander Kurennoi, spokesman for the Prosecutor General’s Office, said an investigation had been launched into the blast, which he called a "terrorist attack".

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also conveyed his condolences following the explosion. Medvedev said in a statement that Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova was ordered to take "additional" steps to provide injured people with medical assistance.

- World reactions

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim extended his condolences to Medvedev over the explosion, and wished a "speedy" recovery to the injured, according to a prime ministry source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland said he was "shocked and saddened by the news of deadly blasts in St. Petersburg."

"I extend my sincere condolences to our member state Russia," Jagland tweeted.

Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was "shocked" by the "deadly" blast in St. Petersburg.

"Greece stands by the Russian people and their government, sends sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those wounded," it added.

* Hajer M’tiri from Paris, Idyli Tsakiri from Athens contributed to this story.