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Russian train derailed by 'bomb' | Russian train derailed by 'bomb' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Russian authorities say they are treating the derailment of a Moscow-St Petersburg express train as terrorism. | |
Prosecutors say an improvised explosive device caused the accident, which injured at least 60 people. More than 30 were taken to hospital. | |
A crater was found at the scene, in the Novgorod region. The train was on one of Russia's busiest routes. | |
Railway officials say 800m (yards) of track was damaged. Some people were pulled out through broken windows. | |
Witnesses say several carriages overturned and fallen power lines crackled overhead. | |
Criminal probe | |
The crater was 1.5m in diameter and 2kg (4.5 pounds) of explosive was used, investigators said. | |
It is not clear who planted the device. Chechen rebels have carried out no violent attacks outside southern Russia for at least a year. | |
Investigators from the Federal Security Service (FSB), as well as the prosecutor's office, are at the scene. | |
The driver reportedly heard a loud bang before the train derailed, at 2143 (1743 GMT) on Monday. | |
"A criminal case has been opened under article 205, clause 3, that is terrorism," said Sergei Bednichenko, chief prosecutor for Russia's north-west district. | "A criminal case has been opened under article 205, clause 3, that is terrorism," said Sergei Bednichenko, chief prosecutor for Russia's north-west district. |
The engine and 12 carriages of the train came off the rails just as it was about to cross a river bridge, Russian Railways said on its website. | |
The incident occurred near the village of Malaya Vishera, about 500km (310 miles) north of Moscow. | |
Officials say 231 tickets had been sold for the express service - meaning it was only about half-full - and there were 20 railway staff on board. |