At around 09:00 on October 31, an explosion occurred in the building of the FSB headquarters in Arkhangelsk (Troitskiy prospect, 54). One person died, three were injured. The head of the region confirmed the use of the explosive device. What is known, what is happening in the city now and what versions are being put forward — in the material of «7x7».
What happened
According to the "Region 29", an explosion occurred in the area of the entrance control of the FSB at 08:50 am. According to eyewitnesses, two people immediately jumped out of the building. Another did not have time. There were moaning from the inside. “Our correspondent, who was close by, reports that after the explosion the guard desk was badly damaged,” the newspaper informs.
“An unidentified explosive device worked,” Interfax quoted Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region, Igor Orlov.
“Rossiyskaya Gazeta”, with a link to the source in law enforcement agencies, said that the explosion occurred as a result of a self-explosion.
Official statement
Information about the incident appeared on the website of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee of Russia after 11:30 am. It says that an explosion occurred at the entrance to the administrative building of the FSB office in Arkhangelsk on October 31 at 08:52 am: “According to preliminary information, the person who entered the building got an unidentified object from his bag, which later exploded in his hands, with the result that he had injuries incompatible with life. At the same time, three officers of the FSB department also received injuries of varying severity level.”
Criminal case
After 12:00 pm the regional administration of the Investigative Committee announced the initiation of proceedings under Article 205 of the Criminal Code (“Terrorist Act”) and part 1 of Article 222 (“Unlawful possession of ammunition”).
“This morning an explosion occurred in the vestibule of the building of the RUFSB of Russia in the Arkhangelsk Region. According to preliminary information, a 17-year-old local resident who carried an improvised explosive device into the building died as a result of the incident,” the message says.
Deceased
One person died. Initially, it was reported that he was on the street, at the entrance to the building (in the first news it was said that the explosion was near the building). He died while he was provided with assistance. TASS wrote that the deceased was not an employee of the office. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee of Russia stated that a young man who had carried an explosive device into the building had died. In the afternoon, the Investigation Department of the region stated that the identity of the 17-year-old dead was established.
Injured
There are people injured. According to eyewitnesses who were close at the time of the explosion, they heard the slam, someone saw a flash. Then the injured carried out on a stretcher from the building. Interfax, with a link to the Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region, Igor Orlov, writes about the three victims.
There is evidence that they were taken to the city hospital.
Alleged organizer of the explosion
After the explosion, a statement on behalf of Valeryan Panov began to spread in some Telegram channels. He wrote that he would commit a terrorist attack in the building of the FSB of Arkhangelsk, for which he takes responsibility. The reliability is uncertain. This statement has not yet been commented by any of the power structures.
The «7x7» journalist found a man with that name and surname in the Telegram channel of an anarcho-communist orientation. The user was online at 08:48 am (the explosion occurred at 08:52 am).
There is a similar message on the user’s page with the nickname Sergey Nechaev in VKontakte. According to some Telegram channels, the explosion was organized by a student of the Polytechnic College.
After 11:00 am, Znak.com reported that the newspaper had a photo of a young man suspected of bombing the building of the FSB office in Arkhangelsk. The young man was on surveillance cameras.
Official comments
The governor of Pomorye said that it is too early to make assessments. “But we will exclude rumors and provocations as much as possible. Security measures are taken in crowded places. The type of explosive device is currently being determined,” said Igor Orlov.
What happens at the scene
The emergency services staff worked all morning on the spot. But after 10:00 am, the rescue service and firefighters began to remove the equipment and fire hoses, since it was not necessary to extinguish anything. The ambulance had already left the scene of the explosion.
People from the building were evacuated.
The quarter was closed.
What happens in the city
According to one of the policemen, a wartime regime was imposed, and a full reinforcement of the Rosguard was announced (officially this information has not yet been confirmed).
According to governor Igor Orlov, security measures have been taken in crowded places.
According to the source of «7x7», immediately after the explosion, the FSB officers began checking hotels and hostels in the city.
The first reaction of residents
"Region 29" broadcasted from the scene. In the first comments, people assumed that it could have been a gas explosion. This has already happened in Arkhangelsk in 2004. Others linked the explosion with past protests against the construction of landfills in Pomorye. Some thought it was military exercise.
Karina Zabolotnaya, Igor Sokolov, Daniil Kuznetsov, photo by Karina Zabolotnaya