A policeman leaves a candle during a memorial service for victims of the St. Petersburg metro blast, outside Tekhnologicheskiy institut metro station in St. Petersburg, Russia, on April 3, 2017. Source: Reuters/Anton Vaganov
LEADERS from across the Asia Pacific have extended their condolences to Russia after a bomb blast in St Petersburg killed 11 people and injured 45 on Monday.
An alleged suicide bomber executed the blast on a St Petersburg metro train, in an attack aimed to coincide with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the city. Russian counter-terrorism officials said an unidentified explosive device went off on a train that was travelling between two stations.
A still image taken from a video uploaded on social media on April 3, 2017, shows a man running past blast victims lying on a platform at Tekhnologicheskiy institut metro station in St. Petersburg, Russia. Source: Instagram @Dariiiiiina
The president laid flowers outside the train station on Monday evening.
President Putin lays flowers for the victims of the St Petersburg metro terror attack. pic.twitter.com/2zkzR0LkQj
— Military Advisor (@miladvisor) April 3, 2017
Leaders from various Asian nations extended their support for Russia in the wake of the attacks. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued support for Russia and expressed sadness in a statement that said “China resolutely opposed all types of terrorism.”
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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the blasts at St. Petersburg metro.”
Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the blasts at St. Petersburg metro. Heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 3, 2017
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak, currently in New Delhi on a state visit to India, also expressed his condolences for victims of the “heinous act.”
Malaysia condemns the heinous act that claimed innocent lives at St Petersburg. My sincere condolences to the families of those affected
— Mohd Najib Tun Razak (@NajibRazak) April 3, 2017
Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman M. Nafees Nakaria also issued a statement on behalf of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, condoles the loss of precious lives in St Petersburg metro blast
— M. Nafees Zakaria (@ForeignOfficePk) April 3, 2017
The White House issued a statement saying US President Donald Trump had called Putin to offer his condolences.
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“President Trump offered the full support of the United States government in responding to the attack and bringing those responsible to justice,” the statement said.
“Trump and President Putin agreed terrorism must be decisively and quickly defeated.”
United Nations secretary-general António Guterres also condemned the attack and said those responsible for the bombing must be held accountable.
