Several dead in St. Petersburg, Russia, subway explosion

April 3 (UPI) -- An explosion in Russia on Monday struck between St. Petersburg's Sennaya Ploschad and Tekhnologichesky Institut subway stations, killing at least 9 and injuring several others, emergency officials said.

Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee, or NAC, said nine people died and 20 people were injured in the explosion, while a spokesman for St. Petersburg's governor said at least 10 people were killed and 50 people were injured. Russia's Ministry of Health said 11 people died in the attack.

NAC said a separate homemade explosive device was disabled in central St. Petersburg's Ploshchad Vosstaniya subway station, which is about 2 miles away from Tekhnologichesky Institut.

Russian officials have warned against drawing conclusions as to whether the explosion was a "terrorist act." Previous reports indicated there were two explosions, but NAC head Andrei Przhezdomsky later said the explosion occurred between subway stations.

All subway stations in St. Petersburg have been closed following the explosions. Victims include children, officials said. RIA Novosti reported the explosive devices were small, homemade and fitted with shrapnel.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is in St. Petersburg, said all causes for the explosion were under consideration, including international and domestic terrorism.