Putin gives go-ahead to ‘eliminate the bandits’

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin gave authorities the go-ahead on Thursday to kill suspects in what he described as a “terrorist attack” at a supermarket in St Petersburg the day before. Several people were injured in the bombing at a Perekryostok supermarket on Wednesday in Russia’s second-largest city. The blast was believed to have been caused by a device that contained shrapnel and had the power of about 200 grammes of TNT. In comments released by the Kremlin, Putin said authorities should “act within the law,” but if there is a threat to their lives, they should “eliminate the bandits on the spot.” There have been no reports of any suspects in the case. One witness said the explosion appeared to have come from a baggage locker at the supermarket’s entrance. — dpa