The general secretary of the World Council of Churches has condemned the deadly bomb attack on a St Petersburg subway in Russia as “cruel and despicable” and called for prayer for the victims and their loved ones.
The death toll has now risen to at least 14 people. Almost 50 were injured in the attack at about 2.20pm on Monday. A second explosive device was found and defused at a nearby metro station. No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack which is believed to have been carried out by a suicide bomber. A Kyrgyz-born Russian citizen has been named by authorities as a suspect.
In a statement, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary, expressed is condolences and called for prayer at “this tragic time”. “Once again innocent people are victims of a heinous, cruel and despicable act that targeted train commuters in the underground system going about their normal daily lives in Russia’s second city,” he said.
The city is currently undertaking three official days of mourning.
World leaders, including US President Donald Trump and British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, have also condemned the attack.
