WCC offers prayers for victims of ‘heinous’ bomb attack on St Petersburg commuters

(Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC)

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has condemned as “cruel and despicable” the actions of those responsible for the 3rd April lethal blast on the St Petersburg metro that killed 14 people and injured at least 49, calling for prayers for the victims and their close ones.

“Once again innocent people are victims of a heinous, cruel and despicable act that targeted train commuters in the underground system going about their normal daily lives in Russia’s second city,” said WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit in a statement issued the following day.

“We express our condolences and let us pray for the victims, their families and close ones as well as the people of St Petersburg and Russia in this tragic time.”

The head of Russia's National Anti-Terrorist Committee said the blast hit a train between Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations, Russia Today reported.

President Vladimir Putin was in St Petersburg at the time of the attack to meet with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. (WCC News)