Minsk metro terrorist attack: 12 dead, 149 injured. Possible blast perpetrator identified

The death toll after the explosion in Minsk metro has risen to 12, the Information and Public Relations Centre of the KGB (the State Security Committee) of Belarus informs.

As the representative of the Committee specified, on April 11 at 5.55 p.m. an explosion of an unidentified explosive device took place in Kastrychnitskaya (Oktyabrskaya, or October) metro station, which entailed deaths of people. On April 12 the number of the killed was 12 (9 of them have been identified up till now). Besides, 149 persons have sought medical advice (22 out of them are in grave condition, 30 have moderate severity traumas).

According experts’ estimations, the explosive device had the explosive yield of 5 kilograms of TNT. The explosive device contained metal waste, 80x8 mm nails and metal balls with a diameter of about 15 mm was placed near a bench situated on the station.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has opened a criminal case on charges related to Article 289 Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (Terrorism).

The KGB source has added that in accordance with the legislation, a system of the state response to extremist acts have been brought into action. A republican response centre headed by the KGB chairman has been created at the KGB (State Security Committee). An operational investigative group is working in the scene. It is headed by the deputy Prosecutor General, a Senior Counsellor of Justice Andrei Shved. The forces of law and order have switched to a round-the-clock robust security regime.

Besides, on the proposal of the leadership of the Russian Federation experts of the FSB (Federal Security Service of Russia) are expected to arrive at 8 a.m.

As of 01.00 a.m. April 12, as a result of operational and investigatory actions, information about the most possible blast perpetrator has been received. Search for the criminal is underway.