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Russia bus bomb: Volgograd blast kills six | |
(35 minutes later) | |
An explosion that killed at least six people on a bus in the southern Russian city of Volgograd was caused by a bomb, Russian officials say. | |
They suspect a woman from Dagestan in the North Caucasus, thought to be the partner of an Islamist militant, carried out a suicide attack. | They suspect a woman from Dagestan in the North Caucasus, thought to be the partner of an Islamist militant, carried out a suicide attack. |
The blast, which happened just after 14:00 (10:00 GMT), also injured more than 20 people, some of them seriously. | The blast, which happened just after 14:00 (10:00 GMT), also injured more than 20 people, some of them seriously. |
North Caucasus has seen many attacks by Islamist militants in recent years. | North Caucasus has seen many attacks by Islamist militants in recent years. |
Students | Students |
It is believed there were 40 people on board the bus, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow reports. | It is believed there were 40 people on board the bus, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow reports. |
He says that all buses in Volgograd have been ordered back to their depots to be searched for any sign of explosives. | He says that all buses in Volgograd have been ordered back to their depots to be searched for any sign of explosives. |
One man whose daughter survived the explosion told Moscow Echo radio: "It was a powerful explosion - a huge blast. There were lots of students on the bus." | One man whose daughter survived the explosion told Moscow Echo radio: "It was a powerful explosion - a huge blast. There were lots of students on the bus." |
Earlier reports had suggested the blast might have been caused by an exploding gas canister. | Earlier reports had suggested the blast might have been caused by an exploding gas canister. |
Volgograd lies about 900km (560 miles) south of Moscow and 650km north of the North Caucasus. | Volgograd lies about 900km (560 miles) south of Moscow and 650km north of the North Caucasus. |
Vladimir Markin, of the Investigative Committee - Russia's equivalent of the FBI - told the RIA Novosti news agency: "A criminal case has been opened under articles outlining terrorism, murder and the illegal use of firearms." | Vladimir Markin, of the Investigative Committee - Russia's equivalent of the FBI - told the RIA Novosti news agency: "A criminal case has been opened under articles outlining terrorism, murder and the illegal use of firearms." |
Mr Markin was later quoted by the Interfax agency as identifying the suspected suicide bomber as a woman from Dagestan. | Mr Markin was later quoted by the Interfax agency as identifying the suspected suicide bomber as a woman from Dagestan. |
He said: "According to preliminary information, the self-explosion was carried out by a 30-year-old Dagestani native, Naida Akhiyalova. | He said: "According to preliminary information, the self-explosion was carried out by a 30-year-old Dagestani native, Naida Akhiyalova. |
"According to investigators' information, the woman entered the bus at one of the bus stops and, almost right after that, the bomb went off. That is also confirmed by one of the passengers who survived." | "According to investigators' information, the woman entered the bus at one of the bus stops and, almost right after that, the bomb went off. That is also confirmed by one of the passengers who survived." |
'Black widows' | 'Black widows' |
In recent years, Russia has seen a number of attacks by women suicide bombers known as black widows, who are often related to Islamist militants and carry out attacks to avenge their deaths. | In recent years, Russia has seen a number of attacks by women suicide bombers known as black widows, who are often related to Islamist militants and carry out attacks to avenge their deaths. |
Female suicide bombers struck at two underground railway stations in Moscow in 2010, killing more than 35 people. | Female suicide bombers struck at two underground railway stations in Moscow in 2010, killing more than 35 people. |
They were also believed responsible for explosions on two passenger jets at a Moscow airport in 2004 that killed about 90 people. | They were also believed responsible for explosions on two passenger jets at a Moscow airport in 2004 that killed about 90 people. |
Separatists in Chechnya have fought two wars with Russian forces over the past two decades. | Separatists in Chechnya have fought two wars with Russian forces over the past two decades. |
But the violence has spread across the North Caucasus in recent years, including to mainly-Muslim Ingushetia and Dagestan. | But the violence has spread across the North Caucasus in recent years, including to mainly-Muslim Ingushetia and Dagestan. |
Hundreds of people, including members of the government and security services, have been killed. | Hundreds of people, including members of the government and security services, have been killed. |
President Vladimir Putin has stepped up security in the North Caucasus ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics, which open in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on 7 February. | President Vladimir Putin has stepped up security in the North Caucasus ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics, which open in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on 7 February. |