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Moscow Metro explosions kill 37 Suicide bombings hit Moscow Metro
(40 minutes later)
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. At least 37 people have been killed after two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on Moscow Metro trains in the morning rush hour, officials say.
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 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 came 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 Russian capital have declared them "terrorist" incidents. No-one has yet said they carried out the worst attack in Moscow since 2004.
We can assume that belts with explosive devices were attached to their bodies Yuri SyominMoscow Chief Prosecutor Profile: Moscow MetroWe 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. 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.
Suspicion is likely to fall on groups in the troubled North Caucasus region, where the authorities are fighting Islamist militants, he says.
Moscow's metro is one of the busiest subways in the world, carrying some 5.5m passengers a day.Moscow's metro is one of the busiest subways in the world, carrying some 5.5m passengers a day.
'No fire''No fire'
Emergency services ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said the first explosion tore through the second carriage of a train as it stood at Lubyanka.Emergency services ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said the first explosion tore through the second carriage of a train as it stood at Lubyanka.
CCTV footage posted on the internet showed motionless bodies in the lobby and emergency workers treating victims.
The station, on the busy Sokolnicheskaya and Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya lines, is close to the headquarters of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).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 passengersMoscow'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. The second blast at Park Kultury, which is also 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 also on the Sokolnicheskaya line, came at 0838 (0438 GMT). "Two female terrorist suicide bombers carried out these bombings," Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov told reporters outside Park Kultury afterwards.
Moscow's chief prosecutor, Yuri Syomin, told reporters that preliminary reports indicated the incident at Lubyanka was a suicide bombing. Prosecutors in the city also said terrorism was suspected.
"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.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.
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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