9 dead, at least 20 injured, in Russia as bombs rip through St. Petersberg metro station

UPDATE: Via the AP, a second bomb has been discovered and safely defused. Also, the death toll has been revised to 9 dead, at least 20 injured. Earlier this morning, an explosive device was detonated in a St. Petersburg, Russia, Metro car as it moved between stations. Details are still somewhat sketchy, but it appears the bomb was packed with nails, and the explosion was powerful enough to blow the doors off the train car. The blast claimed 10 innocent victims, while injuring 50 more. Obviously, the incident is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack. Our thoughts as prayers go out to the victims and their families.

FOX NEWS ALERT: Explosion rocks subway in St. Petersburg, Russia pic.twitter.com/KjhsWmmtki

— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) April 3, 2017

As the Daily Mail reports:

The incident has left at least 50 injured including children injured and witnesses described a man throwing a backpack onto the train moments before the explosion. Vladimir Putin is in his hometown of St Petersburg today for talks with the president of Belarus and has confirmed 'there are dead and injured' and offered his condolences to the families of those killed. Investigators are looking into a possible terror attack and are keeping an open mind to the motive of the subway blast, the Kremlin leader said. Putin, who wanted to visit the scene of the attack but was held back by security services, said: 'I have already spoken to the head of our special services, they are working to ascertain the cause of the blasts. 'The causes are not clear, it's too early. We will look at all possible causes, terrorism as well as common crime.'

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Of course, no one wants to jump to conclusions. Yes, this looks an eerily familiar, but it's entirely possible that this was the work of a newly re-angered Irish Republican Army, Marine Le Pen supporters, or vacationing NRA members. It could be literally anyone. We especially don't want to suggest that a certain international terrorist organization might have been behind it. Oh sure, at least one outlet is reporting that ISIS has issued a statement celebrating the attack, but we're not ready to say they did it. That would be irresponsible.

ISIS supporters are celebrating two explosions on St. Petersburg subways that have killed at least 10 people and injured at least 20, according to Russian media reports. “We ask Allah to bless the operation by the lions of the Caliphate, we ask Allah to kill the Crusaders,” said an ISIS supporter from the terror group’s al-Minbar forum. Others celebrated by saying that the Monday bombs made for “a metro to hell for the worshipers of the Cross” and claimed that the attacks, which are still under investigation by Russian authorities, were revenge for Russia’s backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s, who is fighting against ISIS and other rebel groups in a six-year-long civil war.

We also have no idea if the attack had anything to do with the following image, which was reportedly circulated by ISIS sometime last week. ....And we have no way of knowing if the attack has anything to do with the litany of threats ISIS has levelled at Russia over the course of the last year. You may recall that the saber-rattling began with an infamous "blood will spill" video released in November of 2015. So, is it possible that ISIS was involved in today's attack? Who knows. We simply can't be sure. For now, the media is making sure we know that the nature of the attack is "unclear" and that the killers' "motives are murky." Until we learn more, all we can say is this: IF, by some strange twist of fate, this attack turns out to be the work of Islamic radicals? I wouldn't want to be in their shoes. One suspects the Russian response will be "lacking" the subtlety, restraint, and politically correct language of the typical U.S. reaction. In fact, I'd suspect this attack would result in a level of ruthlessness we haven't seen in some time. ...Y'know. IF it turns out to be Isis.