UGLOVKA, Russia (AP) — Russian officials are blaming a homemade bomb for last night's deadly train accident.
Hundreds of passengers were aboard when the express train from Moscow to St. Petersburg derailed. At least 26 people are dead and dozens of others have been injured.
The Interfax news agency says a spokesman for federal prosecutors is calling this "a terrorist attack."
The head of Russia's Federal Security Service says an improvised explosive device equal to 15 pounds of TNT was detonated when the train passed by. He says remains of the bomb were found at the crash site.
Interfax also quotes the head of Russia's railways as saying a second bomb had partially detonated during the clean-up operation for the first blast. There's also a report that several suspects have been identified.
The upscale train is popular with government officials and business executives. The attack would be Russia's deadliest terrorist strike outside the volatile North Caucasus region in years.
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<<CUT …001 (11/28/09)>> 00:12 "explosion going off"
David Nowak (NOH'-vak)
AP Correspondent David Nowak reports a high-speed commuter train has derailed and there are fears it could be sabotage.
<<CUT …002 (11/28/09)>> 00:16 "for more victims"
David Nowak (NOH'-vak)
AP Correspondent David Nowak reports rescuers are still searching for possible survivors. ((watch for dating))
<<CUT …003 (11/28/09)>> 00:12 "an overnight trip"
David Nowak (NOH'-vak)
AP Correspondent David Nowak reports there are concerns that the derailment might have been a deliberate act and that government and business leaders might've been targeted.
<<CUT …004 (11/28/09)>> 00:15 "is being threatened"
David Nowak (NOH'-vak)
AP Correspondent David Nowak reports the train, which was traveling at about 120 miles an hour, is used mostly by business executives and government officials commuting between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
<<APPHOTO MOSB104 (11/28/09)>>
: Investigators and rescue workers are seen amid wreckage and damaged coaches at the site of a train derailment near the town of Uglovka, some 400 km (250 miles) north-west of Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009. An express train carrying hundreds of passengers from Moscow to St. Petersburg derailed, killing dozens of people and injuring scores of others in what may have been an act of sabotage, Russian officials said.
<<APPHOTO XIAS109 (11/28/09)>>
: Railroad workers stand next to a damaged coach at the site of a train derailment near the town of Uglovka, some 400 km (250 miles) north-east of Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009. An express train carrying hundreds of passengers from Moscow to St. Petersburg derailed, killing dozens of people and injuring scores of others in what may have been an act of sabotage, Russian officials said.
