Explosion injures several people as police lock down city centre

Nobody was killed in the explosion, but several people were rushed to hospital with non-life-threatening injures following the blast in the Russian city this evening. Around 50 people were

evacuated from the area following the blast. Russian media has reported officials as saying an “improvised explosive device” which was “filled with projectiles” appears to have been the

cause of the blast.  An official statement said: "According to the preliminary assessment by explosives experts, an improvised explosive device, equivalent to 200 grams of TNT, exploded

in St Petersburg. "The device was filled with projectiles.” EMERGENCY SERVICES ATTEND INCIDENT IN ST. PETERSBURG SUPERMARKET REUTERS An explosion in a busy St Petersburg supermarket

has injured 10 people Russian media has reported the device was hidden inside a locker, although the motive for the bombing is not yet clear.  Alexander Klaus, the head of St

Petersburg's investigative committee, said: ”All possible versions of what has happened are being worked on. "As of now, it has been established that 10 people were taken to the

city's hospitals with injuries.  “At the moment, the lives of those injured are not under threat." REUTERS Emergency services are still on the scene after the blast earlier this

evening The blast ripped through the store on the ground floor of the ground floor Gigant Hall shopping complex, which is traditionally packed with shoppers in the days before the New Year

celebrations.  Footage from the scene shows emergency service vehicles parked outside the building where the Perekrestok supermarket is located.  An official from the Emergencies Ministry

told Russian news agency TASS: “There was a bang. Emergency personnel are already on the scene. “The evacuation has been completed, and there was no fire.” TASS A device reportedly detonated

inside a locker in the ground floor store TWITTER @5TV An image posted by Russian media purports to show the damage inside the store A statement from company which owns the store told

Sputnik: ”At the moment the store is closed, buyers and staff have been evacuated. “Special services are working at the scene.  “There is no more detailed information at the moment.”