Witnesses say an explosion has hit the subway system in the Belarusian capital

[Bosonic]

Source: AP

MINSK, Belarus — Witnesses say an explosion has hit the subway system in the Belarusian capital.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/witnesses-say-an-explosion-has-hit-the-subway-system-in-the-belarusian-capital/2011/04/11/AFdtklKD_story.html

---

Update: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/strong-explosion-hits-subway-at-belarusian-capital-minsk-at-least-dozen-severely-wounded/2011/04/11/AFTzKoKD_story.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. Strong blast hits Belarusian capital's subway

MINSK, Belarus — An explosion has ripped through a subway station in the center of the Belarusian capital, severely wounding at least a dozen people and sending clouds of smoke pouring into the street.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene Monday evening saw several inert people being carried out of the station, some with heavy injuries including at least one with missing legs.

There was no immediate official comment, but witnesses said the blast hit the Oktyabrskaya station in the center of Minsk about 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) local time.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42535104/ns/world_news-europe/

No mention of cause in any current links.

[Raschel]

3. I didn't know that Belarus was such a large supplier to terrorists.

Belarus is the largest supplier of weapons to Islamic radicals, according to sources at the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Israeli intelligence journal DEBKA.

In the first half of 2001 alone, Belarus signed weapons deals with Arab, Palestinian and Albanian Moslem extremists for more than 500 million dollars, the sources say.

It seems the last dictatorship in Europe is playing a key role in supplying Islamic radicals and terrorists in Central Asia, the Middle East and the Balkans with weapons and military equipment.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/33772

[Bosonic]

4. I can see how that might be a dangerous game to play

Especially if one had any ruthless neighbors who might have been on the receiving end of your sales.

[valerief]

5. So we must be the biggest supplier of weapons to Belarus, right? nt

[Raschel]

12. I don't know, but if you really want to find out, google it.

[Raschel]

2. Doesn't sound like an accident, more like terrorism. Just awful.

Happened just as passengers were stepping off a train about 6 p.m.

The Oktyabrskaya station, where Minsk's two subway lines intersect, was crowded with transferring passengers at the end of the work day.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. At least 7 dead, 35 injured

At least seven people have been killed by an explosion in the metro system in the Belarussian capital Minsk, the state news agency Belta said.

It said 35 people were injured in the blast just before 1800 local time (1500 GMT). The cause is not yet known.
...
Interfax also quoted a security source as saying the most probable cause of the explosion was an act of terror.
...
Witnesses told AP that the blast erupted as passengers were stepping off a train at Oktyabrskaya station, where two underground railway lines intersect.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13042316

[Adsos Letter]

7. Does Belarus still provide logistical support for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan?

Or is Chechnya a factor?

[Bosonic]

8. Did it ever?

Are you confusing Belarus with Uzbekistan?

If not then tell more, as it seems an unusual logistics partner.

[Adsos Letter]

9. My only source on this is Wikipedia, which cites a NATO document.

"Belarus has not expressed a desire to join NATO but has participated in the Individual Partnership Program since 1997 and Belarus provides refueling and airspace support for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus Quote is under the "MILITARY" heading of the document.

[Bosonic]

10. Huh! I did not know that.

[David__77]

11. Seven dead. I wonder whose hands are behind the murders.

Hopefully it is not associated with any domestic radical opposition group.