Western leaders offer condolences to Russia after metro explosion

(Baonghean.vn) - A device exploded in a train car in St. Petersburg, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 50 others.

Ambulance at the scene of the explosion. Photo: TASS.

Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland has expressed his condolences to the Russian people following the deadly explosion at a St. Petersburg metro station on April 3.

“I am shocked and saddened by the news of the deadly explosion in St Petersburg. My sincere condolences to Russia,” Jagland wrote on Twitter.

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders sent his condolences to the families of the victims. “My condolences to the families of the victims and my thoughts are with the injured in the explosion in St. Petersburg,” he wrote on Twitter.

EU foreign ministers at the European Council meeting are following the news, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said. “Following the news from St Petersburg, EU foreign ministers stand shoulder to shoulder with you. Our thoughts are with the entire Russian people,” she wrote on Twitter.

President of the Parliamentary Committee of the Council of Europe (PACE) Pedro Agramunt also confirmed on Twitter: “Heartbroken to hear the news from St. Petersburg, even more than last week. Terrible tragedy. My thoughts are with the victims and the injured.”

“We have received the bad news from St. Petersburg. Our condolences to all the victims and their families,” German government spokesman Steffen Seibert wrote on Twitter.

The US Embassy in Russia has conveyed its condolences to the relatives and friends of those killed in the explosion at a St. Petersburg metro station, a St. Petersburg embassy spokesman said.

“Shocked and saddened by the explosions in St. Petersburg and the resulting death and injury. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families,” she wrote on Twitter.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has sent his condolences to Russian leader Vladimir Putin following the explosion in the St. Petersburg metro system.

“I would also like to express my condolences to you and to the relatives of those killed and injured in the explosion, and to the residents of St. Petersburg who are deeply saddened by such events,” the Belarusian president said before starting his meeting with Russian President Putin.

“There are people who will not let us live in peace and so we must be ready for any situation; there are countless challenges in the world today and we are not living in a separate world. Together with you, we understand this because this is not the first year we have worked together on these issues.”

“And we will once again talk about how to continue to exist in this world and how we should protect the interests of our people,” Lukashenko asserted.

A device exploded in a train car between the Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut metro stations in St. Petersburg at around 2:40 p.m. Moscow time on April 3, Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee said. Several people were killed and injured. Emergency crews were on duty at the scene.

Some media sources said there were two explosions, but the National Counter-Terrorism Committee later confirmed that there was only one explosion on the subway. According to preliminary reports, 10 people were killed in the explosion.

Thu Giang

(According to TASS)