Soldiers guard an entrance while students evacuate from the Alexander Mozhaysky Military Space Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Russian news agencies are reporting a blast has occurred inside the prestigious Mozhaisky Academy in St. Petersburg which trains officers for missile defense troops. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) - Officials in Russia say an explosion inside an elite military academy in the country's second-largest city has wounded four people.
An unidentified explosive device went off early Tuesday afternoon inside the prestigious Mozhaisky Academy in St. Petersburg, which trains officers for the army's missile defense unit, according to acting governor Alexander Beglov.
Russia's top investigative body says that it has launched a criminal inquiry into conspiracy to murder.
Authorities didn't immediately give other details.
Several windows were shuttered on the second floor of the building, and dozens of cadets were being led out of the gated compound.
A local news website, Fontanka, reported that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device with an equivalent of 200 grams of TNT.
Soldiers guard an entrance as an ambulance drives into the Alexander Mozhaysky Military Space Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Russian news agencies are reporting a blast has occurred inside the prestigious Mozhaisky Academy in St. Petersburg which trains officers for missile defense troops. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
A soldier guards an entrance while students evacuate from the Alexander Mozhaysky Military Space Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Russian news agencies are reporting a blast has occurred inside the prestigious Mozhaisky Academy in St. Petersburg which trains officers for missile defense troops. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Military students evacuate from the Alexander Mozhaysky Military Space Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Russian news agencies are reporting a blast has occurred inside the prestigious Mozhaisky Academy in St. Petersburg which trains officers for missile defense troops. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Servicemen walk in front of the Alexander Mozhaysky Military Space Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Russian news agencies are reporting a blast at an elite military academy in Russia's second-largest city. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
An ambulance drives out from the Alexander Mozhaysky Military Space Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Russian news agencies are reporting a blast has occurred inside the prestigious Mozhaisky Academy in St. Petersburg which trains officers for missile defense troops. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press