Three Injured In Blast At Russian Military Academy: Defense Ministry

A Federal Security Service (FSB) vehicle arrives at a military academy in St. Petersburg on April 2.

Three people have been injured in an explosion at a military academy in St. Petersburg, Russian media cited the Defense Ministry as saying.

An unidentified object exploded in a utility room at the Mozhaisky Academy at about 1:30 p.m. local time on April 2, state-run news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS reported, citing unnamed Defense Ministry officials.

The three people who were hurt received medical attention and their lives were not in danger, the reports said.

Citing an unnamed emergency worker, RIA Novosti reported that the blast occurred in a second-floor classroom, and that 20 people had been trapped temporarily after a staircase collapsed.

The Interfax news agency had cited an unnamed ambulance service employee as saying the victims of the blast may be cadets at the academy.

Earlier reports said that four people were injured.

The Mozhaisky Academy trains personnel for Russia's aerospace forces and other parts of the military.

Based on reporting by RIA Novosti, Interfax, TASS, and Novaya Gazeta