An explosion hit a market in Moscow's northeastern part at 10:40 a.m. local time (0640 GMT) Monday, killing at least nine people including three children, a Russian news agency reported.

The blast in the Eurasia section of Cherkizovsky market in Sirenevy Bulvar district was caused by a gas cylinder malfunction, the ITAR-Tass news agency said.

Nine people died and 25 more were injured in the explosion, a police spokesman told the Interfax news agency.

But a statement by Russia's Emergencies Ministry said that "seven people including three children were killed" in the blast.

Medical assistance is being given to the wounded.

A Russian Interior Ministry official said that terrorism was not suspected in the market explosion.

Source: Xinhua