Explosions and gunfire rock St Petersburg as dozens of Russian anti-terror police kill four militants in apartment block
Officers swarm the building after reports men involved in armed gangs were inside the building
FOUR militants have been killed in a shoot out with authorities after two explosions rocked a residential building in Russia's St Petersburg.
Special forces rushed to the Leninsky Prospekt building with .
Local media Fontanka reported that the militants had resisted arrest and opened fire on police after officers rushed to the scene.
It is understood the men were accomplices of Khizir Likhov, who was killed in a shoot out with authorities on Monday.
It is understood that the operation was requested by Russia's Federal Security Service to "detain individuals who are on a federal wanted list and are accused of taking part in illegal armed gangs in the North Caucasus region."
In a police statement, it was revealed that police are now investigating two criminal cases including an attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer as well as the illegal turnover of weapons.
Police said officers had returned fire with four people in the apartment killed.
Photos released on social media have shown officers swarming the area, surrounding the building.
Eye witnesses said groups of armed forces rushed to the scene with smoke issuing from the building.
Photographs from the scene also showed one man, believed to be part of the special forces, being taken away on an ambulance stretcher.
It was also reported that officers brought in a large number of sandbags with
People wearing masks and chemical protection suits were also sighted on the balconies on the building's 10th and 11th floors.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368