A Russian war correspondent dies in an explosion at a restaurant in Saint Petersburg

The war correspondent Maxim Fomin, better known by his pseudonym Vladlén Tatarski, lost his life this Sunday after an explosion in a restaurant in the center of the Russian city of Saint Petersburg, reports the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The

incident occurred during an event dedicated to the journalist.

In addition, 30 people were injured, six of whom are in serious condition, the Russian Ministry of Health reported.

Preliminarily, it is believed that

"an explosive device went off near the scene,"

a source told TASS, adding that the potency of the device was equivalent to more than 200 grams of TNT.

The emergency services also indicated that the explosive device contained shrapnel.

According to preliminary data, the explosive device was hidden in a statuette given to Tatarski, details TASS.

Meanwhile,

a representative of the emergency services told the press that 13 ambulance teams are working at the scene.

Against this background, the Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case.

According to the agency, "all the circumstances and details of the crime are being established."

Shortly after the tragedy, citizens began bringing flowers to the site of the explosion.

War correspondent Maxim Fomin, better known by his pseudonym Vladlén Tatarski.

On video, the explosion from outside the restaurant

In video, Russian war correspondent dies in an explosion

On video, explosion in St. Petersburg

(With information from RT)