HistoryData
war2017

2017 Saint Petersburg Metro attack — Explosion on a train in Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 2017

April 3, 2017

A suicide bombing on the Saint Petersburg Metro killed 15 people and injured at least 45, marking a major terrorist attack on Russian soil.

Quick Facts

Year
2017
Category
war

Key Facts

Date
3 April 2017
Total deaths
15 (including perpetrator)
Injured
At least 45
Perpetrator
Akbarzhon Jalilov
Second device
Found and defused at Ploshchad Vosstaniya
Explosive concealment
Briefcase

By the Numbers

3
Date
15
Total deaths
45
Injured

Location

Map of Saint Petersburg, RussiaMap of Saint Petersburg, RussiaSaint Petersburg, Russia

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Akbarzhon Jalilov, a Russian citizen of ethnic Uzbek origin born in Kyrgyzstan, planted an explosive device concealed in a briefcase on the Saint Petersburg Metro. His motivations and any wider organisational links were subjects of subsequent investigation.

Event

On 3 April 2017, the explosive device detonated aboard a train travelling between Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations. Eleven people including the perpetrator died initially; five more later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the total death toll to 15 and leaving at least 45 injured.

Consequence

A second improvised explosive device was located and defused at Ploshchad Vosstaniya station, preventing further casualties. Russian authorities launched a wide-ranging counter-terrorism investigation, and the attack intensified debate about security on urban transit networks in Russia.

Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis

Side A

1 belligerent

Terrorist perpetrator (Akbarzhon Jalilov)
Peak Mobilized Forces1
Estimated Casualties1
Casualty Rate100.0%
Forces vs Casualties ratio
0CasualtiesMobilized

Side B

1 belligerent

Civilian passengers / Russian state
Estimated Casualties59
Total Casualties (all sides)
60
Outcome
Attack killed 15 and injured at least 45; second device defused; perpetrator died in explosion

Timeline Context

Timeline around 20172017201420152016201820192020Copa Mundial 2028 — 10th and last FIFA Confederations Cup, held in Russia in 2017Carnegiea gigantea — species of plant2017 Istanbul nightclub attack — terrorist mass shooting that occurred at a nightclub in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, on 1 January 20172017 Formula One World Championship — 68th season of FIA Formula One World Championship2017 Africa Cup of Nations — football championship of AfricaJanuary 2017 — month of 20172017–18 UEFA Europa League — 47th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA2017 World Championships in Athletics — 2017 edition of the World Championships in Athletics2017-saint-petersburg-metro-attack-explosion-on-a-train-in-2017