Russia identifies a Kyrgyz-born citizen as a suspect in the deadly St. Petersburg metro bombing

Vladimir Putin lays flowers at a memorial for St. Petersburg metro victims

(Image credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images))

published 4 April 2017

On Tuesday, Russia and Kyrgyzstan's security services identified a Kyrgyz-born Russian citizen as a suspect in Monday's deadly bombing of a train car in the St. Petersburg metro. The death toll from the attack rose to 14 on Tuesday, as three people died in the hospital; more than 40 other people were wounded. Kyrgyzstan's security service said they got the information about Akbarzhon Dzhalilov, 21 or 22, from Russian authorities. St. Petersburg is home to a large diaspora from Central Asia.

St. Petersburg officials declared three days of mourning, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a St. Petersburg native, laid flowers at a makeshift memorial on Monday night. World leaders also extended their condolences, with U.S. President Trump calling to offer his "full support," the White House said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the attack a "barbaric act." Russian authorities have not yet said if they believe the attack was a suicide bombing or if the suspect is at large, or if there is more than one suspect. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.