Radical Islamist suspected in Russia blast that killed 14
ST PETERSBURG: Russian investigators suspect a radical Islamist immigrant from Kyrgyzstan detonated the explosive in a St Petersburg subway car Monday, killing 14 in the worst terrorist attack in a major Russian city in years, Interfax reported.
The likely suicide bomber was a Russian citizen born in the central Asian republic, said a spokesman for the Kyrgyz government’s Committee For National Security, adding that his agency is working with Russian officials on the probe. Interfax quoted the agency as identifying the suspected bomber as Akbarzhon Dzhalilov, born in 1995, from the city of Osh. Investigators suspect he was linked to radical Islamist groups and carried his improvised device in a backpack. Remains of the bomber are now being subjected to DNA testing, Interfax said, citing unnamed lawenforcement officials. A second device was found at another station and defused on Monday and police were seeking a second suspect. Officials in Kazakhstan said they were cooperating with Russian authorities in the probe, although it wasn’t clear if there was an additional suspect from that country.
US President Trump, asked about the blast by reporters in Washington, called it a “terrible, terrible thing — happening all over the world”. In a call with Putin, Trump “offered the full support of the United States government in responding to the attack and bringing those responsible to justice,” according to a White House statement.
The likely suicide bomber was a Russian citizen born in the central Asian republic, said a spokesman for the Kyrgyz government’s Committee For National Security, adding that his agency is working with Russian officials on the probe. Interfax quoted the agency as identifying the suspected bomber as Akbarzhon Dzhalilov, born in 1995, from the city of Osh. Investigators suspect he was linked to radical Islamist groups and carried his improvised device in a backpack. Remains of the bomber are now being subjected to DNA testing, Interfax said, citing unnamed lawenforcement officials. A second device was found at another station and defused on Monday and police were seeking a second suspect. Officials in Kazakhstan said they were cooperating with Russian authorities in the probe, although it wasn’t clear if there was an additional suspect from that country.
US President Trump, asked about the blast by reporters in Washington, called it a “terrible, terrible thing — happening all over the world”. In a call with Putin, Trump “offered the full support of the United States government in responding to the attack and bringing those responsible to justice,” according to a White House statement.
