Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has said that 11 people have been killed in a blast that struck a metro station in the heart of the capital Minsk.
The leader also told an emergency security meeting that around 100 people were wounded in the explosion, which struck just outside his main office and primary residence.
The state news agency BelTA said the blast occurred at 5.55pm (2.55pm Irish time) at the metro station Oktyabrskaya on a square of the same name about 100m from the administration building of President Lukashenko.
Interfax reported that the blast was likely an 'act of terror'.
Mr Lukashenko, who visited the site of the blast this evening, said the blast was aimed at undermining peace and stability in the country.
Victims were carried out of the station and the injured were given on-the-spot medical treatment by ambulance workers and sent to hospital.
A 52-year-old man said a train was coming into the station when the blast occurred on the platform.
'The doors (of the train) opened and then there was an explosion,' said the man who gave his name only as Igor.
'I saw people lying on the floor without moving. There was a lot of blood.'
