The rail bridge near an abandoned Murmansk region village was the target of suspected metal thieves.

Local prosecutors say the unknown perpetrators removed a metal structure 23m long and weighing 56 tonnes from the bridge - its main central span.

A picture posted on the Russian social network VK showed that the bridge was missing its central section.

A lawsuit has been filed with local police, who were quoted as saying that the bridge owner may have dismantled it himself.