MINSK, 26 December (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s immediate response to the explosion in Minsk subway in 2011 and the investigation of the terrorist attack are covered in the latest episode of the documentary series Time Chose Us aired by the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA has learned.
In 2011, the Oktyabrskaya metro station was the only transfer station and the busiest one. It was here that an explosive device went off at 17.55 on 11 April just at the moment when a crowded train arrived at the station. There were hundreds of passengers on the platform, no less were in the cars. The first call to the Emergencies Ministry came two minutes later. Rescuers were informed about smoke and collapsed structures.
“At 17.58 the operational control center received a call from the train dispatcher who said there was an explosion at the Oktyabrskaya metro station, victims, smoke. Of course, we have to be ready for any emergency situation. But this was the first time for us. Everyone who were rushing to the scene (at least in my car) said to themselves that such a thing could not happen,” recalls Sergei Fedortsov, the operational duty officer of Minsk City Department of the Emergencies Ministry.
In 2011, the Oktyabrskaya metro station was the only transfer station and the busiest one. It was here that an explosive device went off at 17.55 on 11 April just at the moment when a crowded train arrived at the station. There were hundreds of passengers on the platform, no less were in the cars. The first call to the Emergencies Ministry came two minutes later. Rescuers were informed about smoke and collapsed structures.
Dozens of rescue teams and ambulances headed for Oktyabrskaya. The power of the explosion was huge. The explosive weighing at least 12.5kg was placed near one of the benches on the platform.
“At 17.58 the operational control center received a call from the train dispatcher who said there was an explosion at the Oktyabrskaya metro station, victims, smoke. Of course, we have to be ready for any emergency situation. But this was the first time for us. Everyone who were rushing to the scene (at least in my car) said to themselves that such a thing could not happen,” recalls Sergei Fedortsov, the operational duty officer of Minsk City Department of the Emergencies Ministry.
The first responder said that he saw a large number of phones scattered on the platform and in damaged metro cars at Oktyabrskaya. All of these phones were ringing. "It was the moment when I realized the full scale of the tragedy," Sergei Fedortsov noted.
Cars stopped on Independence Avenue. Drivers offered help to the wounded, and residents of neighboring houses brought water and bandages. A few minutes later, the news of the terrorist attack in the Minsk metro spread throughout the world. Doctors updated information about the victims every hour. As a result of the terrorist attack, 387 people were injured, and 15 people died. Doctors remained in hospitals after the end of their shifts to help their colleagues, many showed up at work on their day off.
Almost immediately after the news of the explosion appeared, Aleksandr Lukashenko arrived at the Oktyabrskaya station with his youngest son Nikolai.
Cars stopped on Independence Avenue. Drivers offered help to the wounded, and residents of neighboring houses brought water and bandages. A few minutes later, the news of the terrorist attack in the Minsk metro spread throughout the world. Doctors updated information about the victims every hour. As a result of the terrorist attack, 387 people were injured, and 15 people died. Doctors remained in hospitals after the end of their shifts to help their colleagues, many showed up at work on their day off.
Almost immediately after the news of the explosion appeared, Aleksandr Lukashenko arrived at the Oktyabrskaya station with his youngest son Nikolai.
The head of state was the first to lay flowers to commemorate the victims of the terrorist attack. A few hours later, the president held an emergency meeting with security forces.
"Look at everything, down to the smallest details, investigate the case within the shortest possible time. Find out everything. The culprits must be found. There should be no delays," Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed.
Investigators and operatives left no stone unturned trying to find the culprits in the crowd of thousands. They watched hours of surveillance camera footage, interviewed thousands of people, looked into more than a dozen versions, and cross-checked a huge number of testimonies. A day after the explosion, turner Dmitry Konovalov and electrician Vladislav Kovalev, both natives of Vitebsk, were arrested on suspicion of committing the act of terrorism.
"It was important for us to establish their motives and goals. They are two young men. Why did they do this? We began to analyze all their activities leading up to this act of terrorism. Then everything fell into place," former Deputy Prosecutor General (2010-2011), Prosecutor General Andrei Shved said. "Motives and goals became clear. In ten years, this criminal 'duo' turned from teenage bullies into criminals. It was proved that since 2000s they carried out explosions in the entrances of residential buildings in Vitebsk. They deployed trip wires in the vicinity of Vitebsk."
In 2005, the criminals burned a car and committed the first act of terrorism. Over 50 people were hurt, including five residents of Vitebsk receiving serious injuries. "Later in 2008, they made two explosive devices and committed another act of terrorism on the night of 4 July, when the whole country was celebrating Independence Day. More than 50 people were hurt, with 11 suffering serious injuries," Andrei Shved stated.
The investigation into the case of Konovalov and Kovalev lasted 105 days. They were found guilty. They did not deny allegations. The terrorists were sentenced to death. The verdict was announced on 30 November 2011.
"Look at everything, down to the smallest details, investigate the case within the shortest possible time. Find out everything. The culprits must be found. There should be no delays," Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed.
Investigators and operatives left no stone unturned trying to find the culprits in the crowd of thousands. They watched hours of surveillance camera footage, interviewed thousands of people, looked into more than a dozen versions, and cross-checked a huge number of testimonies. A day after the explosion, turner Dmitry Konovalov and electrician Vladislav Kovalev, both natives of Vitebsk, were arrested on suspicion of committing the act of terrorism.
"It was important for us to establish their motives and goals. They are two young men. Why did they do this? We began to analyze all their activities leading up to this act of terrorism. Then everything fell into place," former Deputy Prosecutor General (2010-2011), Prosecutor General Andrei Shved said. "Motives and goals became clear. In ten years, this criminal 'duo' turned from teenage bullies into criminals. It was proved that since 2000s they carried out explosions in the entrances of residential buildings in Vitebsk. They deployed trip wires in the vicinity of Vitebsk."
In 2005, the criminals burned a car and committed the first act of terrorism. Over 50 people were hurt, including five residents of Vitebsk receiving serious injuries. "Later in 2008, they made two explosive devices and committed another act of terrorism on the night of 4 July, when the whole country was celebrating Independence Day. More than 50 people were hurt, with 11 suffering serious injuries," Andrei Shved stated.
The investigation into the case of Konovalov and Kovalev lasted 105 days. They were found guilty. They did not deny allegations. The terrorists were sentenced to death. The verdict was announced on 30 November 2011.
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