ISIS Reacts To St Petersburg Deaths In Metro Explosions At Russian Subway Station

The Islamic State group and its followers were rejoicing at the news of multiple deaths in Russia following a subway car explosion in the city of St. Petersburg Monday afternoon, local time, according to a new report. While the global terror group more commonly known as ISIS did not immediately claim responsibility for the blast that killed at least 10 people and wounded dozens others, including children, the attack being treated as an act of terrorism was all but a page from the militants' theoretical playbook.

The twin explosions that ripped through a metro car traveling between two train stations may have been prompted by ISIS propaganda, which had been urging a terror attack in Moscow, Vocativ reported.

Read: Deadly Explosion Rocks Russian Subway

"We ask Allah to bless the operation by the lions of the Caliphate, we ask Allah to kill the Crusaders," one message written in an internet forum called al-Minbar said. Another message made reference to "a metro to hell for the worshipers of the Cross."

In the weeks prior to the attack, some of ISIS' propaganda circulating online and on social media insisted that "We Will Burn Russia," according to the Independent.

The explosions in the St. Petersburg metro system came nearly two weeks to the day after a terror attack in London that left at least five people dead after a man drove a car into a group of people on Westminster Bridge before crashing into the Parliament building, where he went on a stabbing spree. In that episode, it took ISIS more than 24 hours to claim that attack.

Photos of an alleged St. Petersburg suspect emerged on social media in the hours following the explosions. However, no names were immediately provided.

One eyewitness riding on the fateful metro car told a local news outlet that he saw a man get on and leave a briefcase before getting off quickly. "In the span was a blast, the guy left a briefcase, opened the door and went into another car," the unidentified St. Petersburg resident said. "Only one car."