Explosion in Minsk Metro Station

[Captain Hammer 113]

Hope everyone's family is ok.

Several people are reported to have been injured or killed by an explosion in the metro system in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

An eyewitness reported smoke rising from the Oktyabrskaya metro station in the city centre, and casualties being taken to the surface on stretchers.

The station is near the offices of President Alexander Lukashenko.

It is not yet clear what caused the blast, which happened just before 1800 local time (1500 GMT).

The official state news agency Belta said there were fatalities, but did not say how many.

An Associated Press (AP) reporter at the scene saw heavily wounded people being carried out of the station.

Witnesses told AP that the blast erupted as passengers were stepping off a train at Oktyabrskaya station, where two underground railway lines intersect.

One said at least part of the station's ceiling had collapsed after the explosion.

Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, claimed victory in a presidential election last December, but international observers condemned the vote.

Immediately afterwards, dozens of opposition figures - activists and presidential campaigners - were rounded up and arrested. Some are still in jail.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13042316

[ONA 133]

According to Russian media, so far about 40 people injured, 2 people dead

[Captain Hammer 113]

The death toll is up to 7 now.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/explosion-hits-minsk-subway-kills-at-least-seven/2011/04/11/AFJNhRLD_story.html

[peejay 327]

MINSK, Belarus — An explosion tore through a key subway station in the Belarusian capital of Minsk during evening rush hour Monday killing 11 people and wounding 126. An official said the blast was a terrorist act.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42535104/ns/world_news-europe

I have relatives and friends in Minsk. Hopefully none of them are among the victims.

I've been on the Minsk metro many times on my trips there. I hope they catch the creeps that did this and execute them.

[eekee 182]

I wonder who was behind it and why... it's not like in Russia, where you can safety assume that any terrorism is the act of Chechen separatists.

[Captain Hammer 113]

I wonder who was behind it and why... it's not like in Russia, where you can safety assume that any terrorism is the act of Chechen separatists.

I'm sure there will be conspiracy theories that Russia is behind it. Although to be fair, just because it's a conspiracy theory doesn't mean it's not true. The other main culprit would be Belorussian dissidents. Lukashenko might tend to bring that out in some of his citizenry.

Edited April 12, 2011 by Captain Hammer

[Used to be broken 147]

Hope everyone's family is ok.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13042316

Thank you for posting this. I called and checked with the family no one in our family was hurt. My sincere condolences to anyone who has family members injured or killed. I hope they catch and flog these #######$ sooner rather than later.

[Captain Hammer 113]

Thank you for posting this. I called and checked with the family no one in our family was hurt. My sincere condolences to anyone who has family members injured or killed.

Very happy to hear this. Let's hope all our VJ Belorussian families were uninjured.

I hope they catch and flog these #######$ sooner rather than later.

I could not agree more!

[skylarkfvr 0]

11 people dead now... on belarussian forums people give several versions of who stood behind the explosion... but none of them REALLY make sense. My condolences to all who might have suffered from this. My best friend actually was in that train luckily she's not hurt... but emotionally...

[baron555 934]

I wonder who was behind it and why... it's not like in Russia, where you can safety assume that any terrorism is the act of Chechen separatists.

The Chechens would say that they never wanted to be a part of any other country, way back in the beginning. The history of strife in that area is very long.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I have relatives and friends in Minsk. Hopefully none of them are among the victims.

I've been on the Minsk metro many times on my trips there. I hope they catch the creeps that did this and execute them.

Well then I guess the KGB is going to be arresting themselves eh. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who's behind it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Probably those Orthodox Monks again. What'dya bet?

[slim 1,525]

Time for another revolution.

[Captain Hammer 113]

Time for another revolution.

For sure. I mean, we've still got aircraft for a lot more no-fly zones!