This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25541019
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
'Suicide bomber' hits Russia's Volgograd train station | 'Suicide bomber' hits Russia's Volgograd train station |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An explosion at a train station in the southern Russian city of Volgograd has killed at least 14 people, reports say. | |
A female suicide bomber was thought to be responsible for the blast, Russia's anti-terrorism committee said. | A female suicide bomber was thought to be responsible for the blast, Russia's anti-terrorism committee said. |
In October, a suspected female suicide bomber killed at least six people when she attacked a bus in the city. | |
Moscow is concerned militant groups could be ramping up violence in the run up to the 2014 winter Olympic Games in the city of Sochi in six weeks. | |
An Islamist insurgency in the North Caucasus region has led to many attacks there in recent years. Insurgents have also attacked big Russian towns. | An Islamist insurgency in the North Caucasus region has led to many attacks there in recent years. Insurgents have also attacked big Russian towns. |
Volgograd lies about 900km (560 miles) south of Moscow, 650km north of the North Caucasus and 700km north-east of Sochi. | Volgograd lies about 900km (560 miles) south of Moscow, 650km north of the North Caucasus and 700km north-east of Sochi. |
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered law enforcement agencies to take "all necessary security measures" in the bomb's aftermath, said a Kremlin spokesman. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered law enforcement agencies to take "all necessary security measures" in the bomb's aftermath, said a Kremlin spokesman. |
Mr Putin has ordered the most gravely injured victims to be flown to Moscow for treatment. | |
Security would be stepped up at train stations and airports, said a federal police spokesman. | Security would be stepped up at train stations and airports, said a federal police spokesman. |
'Act of terrorism' | 'Act of terrorism' |
Sunday's explosion rocked Volgograd-1 station at around 12:45 (08:45 GMT) at a time when millions of Russians are travelling to celebrate the New Year. | Sunday's explosion rocked Volgograd-1 station at around 12:45 (08:45 GMT) at a time when millions of Russians are travelling to celebrate the New Year. |
No group has yet said it carried out the bombing, in which dozens of people were injured. | |
"Initial indications are that the blast was set off by a female suicide bomber," said the National Anti-Terror Committee in a statement. | |
Sources say the bomb was detonated near metal detectors at the station entrance. | |
Vladimir Markin, the spokesman for the nation's top investigative agency, the Investigative Committee, claimed that security measures within the station had prevented the bomber hitting a far larger number of people. | |
"When the suicide bomber saw a policeman near a metal detector, she became nervous and set off her explosive device," which contained some 10kg (22lb) of TNT and was packed with shrapnel, Mr Markin said in a statement quoted by the Associated Press. | |
That prevented her going further into the station, which was full of people at a time when several trains were delayed, he said. | |
A nearby security camera facing the station caught the moment of the blast, showing a bright orange flash behind the station's main doors. | A nearby security camera facing the station caught the moment of the blast, showing a bright orange flash behind the station's main doors. |
The explosion shattered windows and sent debris and plumes of smoke from the station entrance. | The explosion shattered windows and sent debris and plumes of smoke from the station entrance. |
Ambulances rushed the injured to hospital, while motionless bodies were laid out in the station forecourt. | Ambulances rushed the injured to hospital, while motionless bodies were laid out in the station forecourt. |
The incident was being treated as an act of terrorism, Mr Markin said. | |
In July, Chechen insurgent leader Doku Umarov posted an online video urging militants to use "maximum force" to prevent the Games from going ahead. | In July, Chechen insurgent leader Doku Umarov posted an online video urging militants to use "maximum force" to prevent the Games from going ahead. |
On Friday, a car bomb killed three people in the southern Russian city of Pyatigorsk. | On Friday, a car bomb killed three people in the southern Russian city of Pyatigorsk. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |