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Moscow Metro explosions kill 37 Moscow Metro explosions kill 37
(30 minutes later)
At least 37 people have been killed by two explosions which hit the Moscow Metro system at the peak of the morning rush hour, Russian officials have said. At least 37 people have been killed in two suspected suicide bombings on the Moscow Metro system at the peak of the morning rush hour, officials have said.
The first blast went off in the central Lubyanka station at 0756 (0356 GMT). Police said the dead included 14 people inside a train and 11 on the platform. The first blast occurred in the central Lubyanka station at 0756 (0356 GMT). Police said the dead included 14 people inside a train and 11 on the platform.
The second explosion occurred about 40 minutes later at the Park Kultury station, where 12 people were killed. The second explosion came about 40 minutes later at the Park Kultury station, where 12 people were killed.
Authorities in the capital have declared it a "terrorist" incident. Authorities in the Russian capital have declared them "terrorist" incidents.
We can assume that belts with explosive devices were attached to their bodies Yuri SyominMoscow Chief Prosecutor Profile: Moscow Metro
The BBC's Rupert Wingfield Hayes in Moscow says no-one has yet claimed responsibility, but the explosions do appear to have been co-ordinated.The BBC's Rupert Wingfield Hayes in Moscow says no-one has yet claimed responsibility, but the explosions do appear to have been co-ordinated.
Moscow's metro is one of the most-used underground railways in the world, carrying some 5.5m passengers a day, our correspondent says. Suspicion is likely to fall on groups in the troubled North Caucasus region, where the authorities are fighting Islamist militants, he says.
Suspicion is likely to fall on groups in the troubled North Caucasus region, where the authorities are fighting Islamist militants, he adds. Moscow's metro is one of the busiest subways in the world, carrying some 5.5m passengers a day.
'Suicide bombings' 'No fire'
Emergency services ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said the first explosion tore through the second carriage of a train as it stood at the Lubyanka station, close to the headquarters of 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.
She said people both inside the carriage and on the platform had been killed. The station, on the busy Sokolnicheskaya and Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya lines, is close to the headquarters of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
Moscow's Metro is one of the busiest in the world, with millions of passengers
"There was no fire. Rescuers of the Moscow emergencies department and firefighters are now working at the site," she added."There was no fire. Rescuers of the Moscow emergencies department and firefighters are now working at the site," she added.
The second blast, at Park Kultury, came at 0838 (0438 GMT). The second blast at Park Kultury, which is also on the Sokolnicheskaya line, came at 0838 (0438 GMT).
Prosecutors in the capital told the Russian Interfax news agency that initial reports indicated both of the explosions were suicide bombings. Moscow's chief prosecutor, Yuri Syomin, told reporters that preliminary reports indicated the incident at Lubyanka was a suicide bombing.
"We can assume that belts with explosive devices were attached to their bodies," he said. "The scenario was similar at Park Kultury."
Moscow's mayor said investigators believed the suicide bombers were women.
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.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, who had targeted the capital in the past.Six months later, a suicide bomber blew herself up outside a station, killing 10 people. Both attacks were blamed on Chechen rebels, who had targeted the capital in the past.
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