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Suicide bombings hit Moscow Metro Suicide bombings hit Moscow Metro
(10 minutes later)
At least 35 people have been killed after two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on Moscow Metro trains in the morning rush hour, officials say.At least 35 people have been killed after two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on Moscow Metro trains in the morning rush hour, officials say.
Twenty-three died in the first blast at 0756 (0356 GMT) as a train stood at the central Lubyanka station, beneath the offices of the FSB intelligence agency.Twenty-three died in the first blast at 0756 (0356 GMT) as a train stood at the central Lubyanka station, beneath the offices of the FSB intelligence agency.
About 40 minutes later, a second explosion ripped through a train at Park Kultury, leaving another 12 dead.About 40 minutes later, a second explosion ripped through a train at Park Kultury, leaving another 12 dead.
No-one has said they carried out the worst attack in the capital since 2004. The FSB said it was likely a group from the North Caucasus was responsible.
We can assume that belts with explosive devices were attached to their bodies Yuri SyominMoscow Chief Prosecutor class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8592380.stm">Live: Moscow Metro bombings class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8592322.stm">In pictures: Aftermath of attacks class="" href="/2/hi/europe/3465385.stm">Profile: Moscow Metro The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says no group has yet said it carried out the attacks, but past suicide bombings in the capital have been carried out by or blamed on Islamist rebels fighting for independence in Chechnya.
But the BBC's Richard Galpin in the Russian capital says past suicide bombings there have been blamed on Islamist rebels fighting for independence in the troubled North Caucasus region of Chechnya. People were yelling like hell... Within about two minutes everything was covered in smoke Alexei, witness class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8592380.stm">Live: Moscow Metro bombings class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8592322.stm">In pictures: Aftermath of attacks class="" href="/2/hi/europe/3465385.stm">Profile: Moscow Metro
In February, Chechen rebel president Doku Umarov warned that "the zone of military operations will be extended to the territory of Russia... the war is coming to their cities". In February, Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov said "the zone of military operations will be extended to the territory of Russia... the war is coming to their cities".
Moscow's metro is one of the busiest subways in the world, carrying some 5.5m passengers a day. At an emergency meeting with senior officials, President Dmitry Medvedev vowed to uphold the "policy of suppressing terror and the fight against terrorism".
'No fire' "We will continue operations against terrorists without compromises and to the end," he said.
Emergency services ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said the first explosion tore through the second carriage of a train as it stood at Lubyanka at the peak of the rush hour. Federal security forces have scored a series of successes against militants in the North Caucasus in recent weeks. In February, at least 20 insurgents were killed in an operation by troops in Ingushetia.
Amateur video of Kultury aftermath 'Panic'
The station, on both the busy Sokolnicheskaya and Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya lines, is close to the headquarters of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Emergency services ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said the first explosion tore through the second carriage of a train as it stood at Lubyanka at the peak of the rush hour on Monday.
The BBC Russian Service's Yuri Maloverian at Lubyanka station says there are still ambulances on the scene although all the wounded have been transported to local hospitals. The station, on both the busy Sokolnicheskaya and Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya lines, lies beneath the headquarters of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
"I was moving up on the escalator when I heard a loud bang, a blast. A door near the passage way arched, was ripped out and a cloud of dust came down on the escalator," a man named Alexei told Rossiya 24 TV channel.
"People started running, panicking, falling on each other," he said.
The second blast at Park Kultury, which is six stops away from Lubyanka on the Sokolnicheskaya line, came at 0838 (0438 GMT). It struck at the back of the train as people were getting on board.The second blast at Park Kultury, which is six stops away from Lubyanka on the Sokolnicheskaya line, came at 0838 (0438 GMT). It struck at the back of the train as people were getting on board.
"According to preliminary information provided by the Federal Security Service, two female suicide bombers were involved," Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov told reporters gathered outside Park Kultury. Moscow's Metro is one of the busiest in the world, with millions of passengers
"I was in the middle of the train when somewhere in the first or second carriage there was a loud blast. I felt the vibrations reverberate through my body," a man told the RIA news agency.
"People were yelling like hell," he added. "There was a lot of smoke and within about two minutes everything was covered in smoke."
More than 70 people were injured in the two attacks, officials said.
"According to preliminary information provided by the Federal Security Service, two female suicide bombers were involved," Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov told reporters at Park Kultury.
In the Park Kultury blast, the bomber was wearing a belt packed with plastic explosives and set it off as the train's doors opened, a spokesman for Russia's top investigative body said.In the Park Kultury blast, the bomber was wearing a belt packed with plastic explosives and set it off as the train's doors opened, a spokesman for Russia's top investigative body said.
Federal prosecutors said they had opened an investigation into "suspected acts of terrorism".Federal prosecutors said they had opened an investigation into "suspected acts of terrorism".
The entire Metro system has been closed down as a precaution, while the Russian civil aviation regulator has ordered all local airports to increase security. MOSCOW METRO ATTACKS March 2010: Two suicide bombers blow themselves up at Lubyanka station and Park Kultury station, killing 35 peopleAugust 2004: Suicide bomber blows herself up outside Rizhskaya station, killing 10February 2004: Suicide bombing on Zamoskvoretskaya line, linking main airports, kills 40August 2000: Bomb in pedestrian tunnel leading to Tverskaya station kills 13February 2000: Blast injures 20 inside Belorusskaya stationJune 1996: Bomb on the Serpukhovskaya line kills fourJanuary 1998: Three injured by blast at Tretyakovskaya station
The entire Metro system has been closed down as a precaution, and 700 interior ministry troops have been deployed on the streets.
"The whole city is a mess, people are calling each other, the operators can't cope with such a huge number of calls at a time," said Olga, a BBC News website reader in Moscow. "Those who witnessed the tragedy can't get over the shock."
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is currently visiting Siberia, is "receiving detailed information from security agencies and social services about the work on helping the victims", a spokesman said.Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is currently visiting Siberia, is "receiving detailed information from security agencies and social services about the work on helping the victims", a spokesman said.
Russian forces have scored a series of successes against militants in recent weeks. In February, at least 20 insurgents were reportedly killed in an operation by Russian security forces in Ingushetia.
There was a major attack on the Moscow Metro in February 2004, when at least 39 people were killed by a bomb on a packed train as it approached the Paveletskaya Metro station.There was a major attack on the Moscow Metro in February 2004, when at least 39 people were killed by a bomb on a packed train as it approached the Paveletskaya Metro station.
Six months later, a suicide bomber blew herself up outside a station, killing 10 people. Both attacks were blamed on Chechen rebels.Six months later, a suicide bomber blew herself up outside a station, killing 10 people. Both attacks were blamed on Chechen rebels.
In November, the Caucasian Mujahadeen claimed responsibility for a bomb that killed 26 people on board an express train travelling from Moscow to Russia's second city of St Petersburg.In November, the Caucasian Mujahadeen claimed responsibility for a bomb that killed 26 people on board an express train travelling from Moscow to Russia's second city of St Petersburg.
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