A bomb blast inside the Oktyabrskaya station of the Minsk metro on April 11, 2011, has so far left 12 dead and hundreds wounded.
Almost immediately after the attack, the hashtags #minsk [1] and #minskblast [2] collected condolences tweeted to families and friends of those killed or injured in the attack.
The BBC quoted [3] [ru] a few eyewitnesses who said that “around 17:58” on Monday, April 11, 2011, there was a “loud sound” and Oktyabrskaya – the metro station in the center of Minsk where the city's two subways lines intersect – filled with smoke.
While it is not known if the explosion has occurred inside a metro train or on the platform, the BBC Russian Service [3] [ru] reported that two trains were in the station when the blast happened. They also posted one of the first videos after the explosion [5]. The Belarusian government called the bombing a “terrorist act.”
Minsk correspondent for Gazeta.ru [6] [ru] reported that police were not allowing journalists to access the area around the metro:
На месте ЧП милиция отбирает фотокамеры и сотовые телефоны у людей, которые пытаются снимать происходящее. «Милиция действует очень жестко.»
But numerous videos still appeared online. This video uploaded by YouTube user abryko [7] on April 11 shows the immediate aftermath of the attack (WARNING: disturbing scenes):
This video uploaded by user iar107 [8] on the same day shows the rescue operation after the explosion:
Ria Novosti reported [9] [ru] that 157 people were hospitalized, among them 26 heavily injured on the morning of 12 April.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said that he suspected [10] the attack might be connected to the 2008 bombing at an outdoor concert.
A few bloggers agree. Yuri Shevtsov says [11] [ru]:
Я понимаю, и все мы тут понимаем, что мы атакованы серьезной террористической сетью. И что это не внутренний терроризм. Это – внешняя атака.
While other bloggers, assuming it was an act of terrorism, started speculating [12] [ru]:
Если это терракт, если это не нелепая случайность с перевозкой взрывчатки, то это, имхо, – исламисты.
Наши “родные кавказские” исламисты. Не вижу других вариантов.
Others debated [13] [ru] whether the act had been organized by Lukashenko to weigh down heavily on oppositions parties.
Blogger Shusharin [14] [ru] posted:
КГБ взрывает Беларусь
Никаких других вариантов не видно. В белорусской оппозиции отродясь не было экстремистов.
Это выгодно только одному человеку – Лукашенко. Для того, чтобы начать террор против белорусского народа – уже не против оппозиции.
There is no other visible alternative. Within the Belorussian opposition movement there has never been any extremists. This is only useful to one person – Lukashenko. In order to start a terror against the Belarus people – not even the opposition.
While posts and tweets of condolences streamed over Twitter, one post [16] [ru] said that on April 12, people were gathering to light candles for the dead:
всем не безразличным! завтра в 19.00 возле театра Я.Купалы.цветы и свечи, в знак памяти. Передайте другим. Спасибо.