A bridge collapse causes a train to derail in Russia, killing at least 7 people, officials say

MOSCOW AP A commuter train derailed in western Russia late Saturday after a bridge collapsed because of what local representatives described as illegal interference killing at least seven people and injuring The bridge in Russia s Bryansk region which borders Ukraine was damaged as a effect of illegal interference in transfer operations Moscow Railways explained in a declaration without elaborating Russia s federal road transportation agency Rosavtodor reported the destroyed bridge passed above the railway tracks where the train was traveling Photos posted by regime agencies from the scene appeared to show customer cars from the train ripped apart and lying amid fallen concrete from the collapsed bridge Other footage on social media appeared to be taken from inside other vehicles that narrowly avoided driving onto the bridge before it collapsed Bryansk regional Gov Alexander Bogomaz disclosed exigency services and executive executives were working at the scene He mentioned seven people died and two children were among the injured Everything is being done to provide all necessary assistance to the casualties he explained Russian bureaucrats have not explained who is responsible for Saturday s episode but in the past chosen officers have accused pro-Ukrainian saboteurs of attacking Russia s railway infrastructure The details surrounding such incidents however are limited and cannot be independently verified Ukrainian media outlets broadcasted in December that Kyiv s top spy agency had successfully carried out two explosions on a railroad line in Siberia that serves as a key conduit for exchange between Russia and China Ukraine s safety services did not comment on the reports Russian Railways substantiated one of the explosions described by Ukrainian media but did not say what had caused it There was no comment from Russian agents on a second explosion