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Female suicide bombers blamed in Moscow subway attacks
By: cnn.comPosted On: 03/29/2010 12:25 P
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Russian investigators combing two subway stations attacked by female suicide bombers think Chechen rebels may have been behind the rush-hour strike that killed dozens of people.
Russian investigators combing two subway stations attacked by female suicide bombers think Chechen rebels may have been behind the rush-hour strike that killed dozens of people.
"Our preliminary assessment is that this act of terror was committed by a terrorist group from the North Caucasus region," said Alexander Bortnikov of the Federal Security Service, in reference to the investigation at one of the blast sites.
"We consider this the most likely scenario, based on investigations conducted at the site of the blast," Bortnikov said. "Fragments of the suicide bombers' body found at the blast, according to preliminary findings, indicate that the bombers were from the North Caucasus region."
Two female suicide bombers set off explosions that rocked the two subway stations in central Moscow during rush hour Monday morning, killing at least 38 people and wounded more than 60 others, officials said.
Although the Chechen rebels have yet to claim responsibility, Bortnikov's statement is a strong implication that Chechen rebels fighting for independence were behind the strike.
How Chechen rebels threaten Russian stability
Thousands have been killed and 500,000 Chechen people have been displaced in the Chechen rebels almost 20-year conflict with Moscow.
Read timeline of Chechnya violence
The explosions killed at least 38 people and wounded 65 others, Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said. The casualty tolls were fluctuating immediately after the blasts.
The first blast occurred at 7:56 a.m. local time at Lubyanka subway station, killing at least 23 people and wounding 18, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported on its Web site.
The Lubyanka station is near the Kremlin and Federal Security Service headquarters.
Another blast happened about 40 minutes later at Park Kultury station, on the same train line. The ministry reported 12 dead in the second explosion, with 20 more wounded. Both stations reopened at about 5 p.m. Moscow time (1400 GMT), the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.
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Three Moscow hospitals were treating the wounded, the ministry said.
Yulia Shapovalova with Russia Today TV was at the second station at the time of the blast.
"The staff members started urgently evacuating people, so that meant they probably knew about the first blast at the Lubyanka station," she said. "All the people -- a huge crowd of people -- slowly started to move. ... As soon as I got upstairs, I heard the blast."
iReporter takes images of the scene
"It was a terrorist act carried out by the female suicide bombers," said Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, in reference to the first and most lethal explosion, citing the Federal Security Service. "They were specifically timed -- for ... the train was nearing the station -- to make the most damage."
Officials have declared Tuesday a day of mourning for the victims.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the "terrorists" responsible for the Moscow subway attacks Monday "will be destroyed."
"I am sure that law enforcement agencies will do everything to find and punish the criminals," said Putin, who called for helping the families of the victims and bolstering transportation safety.
"We are providing Moscow metro with additional CCTV cameras. Today's events show we should not only continue this work but to make it more effective. Changes in legislation may be necessary."
Millions of commuters use the Moscow metro system every day. An estimated 500,000 people were riding trains throughout the capital at the time of the attacks. It was unclear when the system would return to normal service and the incident generated fear among commuters.
"I feel scared," one woman said on TV. "I have to walk to get to work because there is no way I'm going by Metro."
Three subway stations in St. Petersburg also closed later over a bomb scare. Nevsky Prospect, its connecting station Gostinny Dvor and Ploshchad Vosstanie Station shut after authorities received a phone call warning but nothing suspicious was found.
The attacks in Moscow reverberated across the globe. U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the "outrageous acts" and passed along his condolences.
"The American people stand united with the people of Russia in opposition to violent extremism and heinous terrorist attacks that demonstrate such disregard for human life," Obama said.
New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said police are stepping up security in the New York City subway system.
In Washington, Metro, the operator of the city's transit system, said it is expanding security in light of the Moscow attacks. Coincidentally, it had a terror drill this past weekend and is holding another one on Monday.
Why no subway is safe from terror
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "appalled" by the incident and sent condolences to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, according to Britain's Press Association news service.
Interpol, the international police agency, condemned the attacks and offered help to Russian authorities in the investigation.
Interpol's executive director of police services, Jean-Michel Louboutin, called the actions "despicable and senseless attacks targeting the public."
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