Putin says explosion was a terror attack

The explosion at a supermarket in Russia’s secondlargest city was a terrorist attack, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, adding that another attack had been thwarted.

At least 13 people were injured on Wednesday when an improvised explosive device went off at a storage area for customers’ bags at the supermarket in St Petersburg. Investigators said the device contained 200 grams of explosives and was rigged with shrapnel to cause more damage.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Putin made his comment Thursday at an awards ceremony at the Kremlin for troops who took part in Russia’s Syria campaign but did not offer any details. He also said another terrorist attack had been thwarted in St. Petersburg but did not elaborate.

Putin has portrayed Russia’s operation in Syria as a pre-emptive strike against terrorism at home. He said the threat of attacks at home would have been much worse if Russia had not intervened in Syria.

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov would not say what led authorities to declare the attack an act of terrorism.

MOSCOW:

WHO HAS BOYCOTTED QATAR?

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain kicked off the dispute in June, severing ties with Qatar. Egypt shortly followed suit, as did Yemen, the Maldives and Libya

WHAT DO QATAR'S NEIGHBOURS WANT?

They have sent a 13-point list of demands, including

Curb diplomatic ties with Iran and close its diplomatic missions

Sever all ties to "terrorist organisations"

Shut down Al Jazeera

WHAT IMPACT HAS THE CRISIS HAD?

Qatar is dependent on imports by land and sea — 40% of its food came from Saudi Arabia. However, Turkey and Iran now sends it food by air and sea. Qatar's stock market also lost around 10% in the first few weeks, but has since stabilised