Tuesday, December 27 2005 15:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Moscow: Nearly 80 people were hospitalised yesterday (Dec 26, 2005) in toxic gas attack in two super markets of a local chain in St. Petersburg, even as the authorities have ruled out a terror act.

According to RIA Novosti two homemade bombs filed with toxic gas went off in two stores of a local chain specialising in home furnishing.

About 80 people who felt sick due to toxic gas were rushed to various hospitals, 66 of them hospitalised with the preliminary diagnosis of 'gas poisoning.' Rest of the affected people have been discharged after first aid, a source in the city department of the Emergency Situations Ministry told Interfax.

"Suspicious boxes with wire were found in two other outlets of the Maxidom chain," the city prosecutors office said ruling out an act of terror, Radio Mayak reported.

The police also said that most of the gas attack victims were workers of the supermarkets as they were not open for the shoppers.

By evening all people affected by the unknown gas have been released from hospitals after receiving medical aid, St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko said, emphasising that the incident was not a terrorist attack.

"All people who asked for medical assistance after being affected by the unknown substance dispersed in several trade centres in St. Petersburg were given medical aid and sent home," Matviyenko said.

She said experts were still trying to identify the gas, but could confirm that the incident was not an act of terrorism.

According to initial probe the substance merkantan was used in the mass poisoning in the stores, capsules of which were recovered.

The authorities suspect "criminal hand" in the gas attack on the popular retail chain and have not ruled out "business rivalry", local media reports suggest.

The management of supermarket chain had received letters containing threats to spoil New Year sales. Most probably, it was a criminal act by business rivals, NTV quoted a local police source.

The Maxidom supermarket chain specialising in the sale of goods for home repair and furnishing has four outlets in St. Petersburg, later the police recovered two more explosive devices with timers containing toxic gas capsules in remaining stores, NTV added.