Series of explosions recorded in public places in Russia, phone scammers blamed – videos, photos

Explosives detonated in crowded places in several Russian cities on Saturday, 21 December. Several suspects have been detained.   Source: Russian service of Radio Liberty; Russian state-owned news agency TASS; Telegram channels

Details: The Fort shopping centre in the northeastern part of Moscow was evacuated due to explosions. An explosion rang out in a multifunctional public service centre located there. One person was hospitalised: a woman tripped and fell during the evacuation, Mash reports.

In addition, another multifunctional center, as well as a shopping centre in Korolyov and a post office in Khimki in Moscow Oblast were evacuated.

In Korolyov, several windows were smashed and the ceiling caught fire in the Gelios shopping centre as a result of the explosion.

Three suspects were detained in Moscow, Korolyov and Khimki. In the first case, a pensioner allegedly detonated a firecracker at the behest of people who had extorted 120,000 roubles (approx. US£1.165) from her.

In the second case, a suspect, 64, seemingly tried to detonate explosives at a police station. The suspect in Khimki is aged 70. On Saturday, in St Petersburg, two pensioners allegedly tried to set fire to a police car at the behest of telephone fraudsters.

They have been detained. A criminal investigation into the attack has been opened, TASS reports. In addition, an explosion rang out inside a Sberbank branch in St.

Petersburg: according to preliminary data, an improvised explosive device could have exploded inside an ATM. No injuries were reported. Mash na Moyke Telegram channel writes that before the explosion, a flammable liquid was poured into the ATM.

The publication published a video from a surveillance camera, the suspect is an elderly woman. According to Sibir.Realii, a Radio Liberty project focused on current affairs in Siberia, a similar incident occurred in Krasnoyarsk the night before. Authorities there said that the suspect in the ATM arson was a victim of telephone fraud.

According to the Baza Telegram channel, at least 13 distinct arsons across Russia have occurred in the last two days, involving cars, fireworks, and buildings.

Support UP or become our patron!