Vladlen Tatarsky was killed in an attack allegedly from an improvised explosive device that also injured 30
A café in the historical center of the Russian city of St. Petersburg was rocked by an explosion on Sunday that killed prominent war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky and injured 30 people. According to emergency services, an improvised explosive device was detonated in the café. RT has gathered what is known about the incident so far.
St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov confirmed that one person was killed and 25 others injured in the attack, adding that 19 of those injured had been hospitalized. The deceased was later identified as prominent Russian war correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky. TASS reported, citing emergency services, that the force of the improvised explosive device allegedly used in the incident was equivalent to 200 grams of TNT.
The ‘Street Bar 1’ café is located in the historical center of St. Petersburg, on Universitetskaya Embankment, just across the Neva River from the iconic Admiralty building and the office of the Russian Constitutional Court.
The venue was hosting an event at which Tatarsky was giving a talk and meeting with followers. It is unclear how many people were in attendance. Videos that surfaced on social media showed dozens of people standing in a state of shock outside the café in the immediate aftermath of the blast.
The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case over the incident. The law enforcement agency said in a statement that an “unidentified improvised explosive device” was detonated at the scene. The police also confirmed Tatarsky’s death. Details of the incident are still being investigated, it added.