Bomb caused Russian train crash that killed 26

Russian officials opened a terror investigation today, saying that a home-made bomb planted on the tracks of the high-speed Moscow-to-St Petersburg route caused a derailment that killed at least 26 people and injured dozens more.

The head of Russia’s Federal Security Service, Alexander Borotnikov, was quoted by the Interfax and RIA Novosti news as saying that an improvised explosive device equivalent to 15 pounds (7 kilograms) of TNT had detonated when the train passed over it on Friday night. Remains of the device were found at the site of the crash, Mr Borotnikov said.

“Indeed, this was a terrorist attack,” Interfax cited Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for federal prosecutors, as saying.

If terrorism is confirmed, the train derailment would be Russia’s deadliest terrorist strike outside the volatile North Caucasus region in years.

Witness accounts appeared to back up reports of a bomb blast.

“It was immensely scary. I think it was an act of terrorism because there was a bang,” passenger Vitaly Rafikov told Channel One state television. He was unhurt in the accident and helped with the rescue, hauling victims from the wreckage and lighting fires for warmth.

The last three carriages of the 14-car Nevsky Express careered off the tracks on Friday night as the train approached speeds of 200 kilometres per hour (130 mph), officials said.

More than 600 passengers were on the train when it derailed near the border of the Novgorod and Tver provinces. The rural area is 250 miles north west of Moscow and 150 miles south east of St. Petersburg.