MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. Authorities of Russia’s Urals city of Magnitogorsk have warned citizens against panicking over terror alert emails, the city administration told reporters on Monday.
The regional branch of the Federal Security Service confirmed to TASS that spam had been sent. "In Magnitogorsk, spam with terror attacks alerts has been sent to email addresses. We are working jointly with competent authorities according to earlier approved schemes."
Earlier reports said law enforcement authorities in Magnitogorsk were checking reports that a terrorist attack could be carried out at city hospital number 1.
"There have been a growing number of cases of anonymous spam messages sent and their key goal is to destabilize the situation in the city and sow panic among citizens. All services in Magnitogorsk are reacting promptly checking all messages," the press service said. "We ask citizens not to give in to provocations and not to panic."
On December 31, 2018, a section of a ten-storey apartment block collapsed in Magnitogorsk, killing 23. As many as 18 people were rescued in the first hours after the collapse, another six were pulled out of the rubble alive later. Gas blast is believed to be main cause of the building collapse, the Russian Investigative Committee said. Investigators have found no traces of explosives at the site.