A Russian serial killer jailed for life for killing 48 people has said he is ready to admit to 11 more murders, according to the country's prison service.
Alexander Pichushkin, now 50 years old, targeted his victims - many of them homeless, alcoholics or elderly - around Bitsevsky Park in Moscow.
His killing spree lasted from 1992 to 2006, and he was then tried and jailed in 2007.
Russian media nicknamed him the "chessboard killer" because he told detectives he had planned to place a coin on every square of a 64-square chessboard for each of his victims.
The serial killer has been detained in a remote prison in Russia's Arctic, the Polar Owl prison, since being sentenced.
He has long been suspected of killing more people than the 48 for whose murders he has already been convicted.
Now he has told investigators he is prepared to confess to 11 further killings of men and women, Russia's prison system said in a statement on the Telegram messenger app on Saturday.
During his previous trial, he claimed to have killed 63 people, but he was only charged with 48 murders and three attempted murders.
Should he be convicted of the 11 additional murders, he would become Russia's second most prolific serial killer on record.
Mikhail Popkov, a former policeman, was convicted of 78 murders.
(c) Sky News 2025: Russia's 'chessboard killer' Alexander Pichushkin poised to confess to 11 more murders, offi
Volodymyr Zelenskyy takes swipe at US over 'weak' comment on Russian attack - as Ukrainian drones strike factory
IDF admits mistakenly identifying Gaza aid workers as threat - after video of attack showed ambulances were marked
Global markets have given Trump a clear no-confidence vote - and his fickleness is making the problem worse
Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed denied entry and deported from Israel
Spain protests: Hundreds of thousands march against housing crisis fuelled by tourism boom
Hundreds of names removed from official Gaza war death list
Number of deaths from Myanmar earthquake rises - as US aid workers 'laid off' after arriving to help
Children among 19 killed in Russian attack on Zelenskyy's home city
North Korea: Kim Jong Un test-fires 'new sniper rifle' while visiting special forces
