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| Putin, After Silence, Condemns Twin Bombings in Volgograd | Putin, After Silence, Condemns Twin Bombings in Volgograd |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin on Tuesday broke two days of silence on the twin bombings in Volgograd, calling them “inhumane terrorist acts” and vowing that Russia would continue to fight terrorists until “their complete destruction.” | MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin on Tuesday broke two days of silence on the twin bombings in Volgograd, calling them “inhumane terrorist acts” and vowing that Russia would continue to fight terrorists until “their complete destruction.” |
| On a day when the death toll from the attacks climbed to 34, Mr. Putin made his remarks during a New Year’s message that Russian and, before them, Soviet leaders have traditionally given on the country’s most celebrated holiday. | On a day when the death toll from the attacks climbed to 34, Mr. Putin made his remarks during a New Year’s message that Russian and, before them, Soviet leaders have traditionally given on the country’s most celebrated holiday. |
| The bombings have tempered official celebrations somewhat, especially in Volgograd, a city of one million in central Russia that has now endured three suicide bombings since October. By Tuesday more than 5,000 extra interior troops had surged into the city, carrying out searches that resulted in dozens of detentions, though apparently not of anyone involved in the bombings. | The bombings have tempered official celebrations somewhat, especially in Volgograd, a city of one million in central Russia that has now endured three suicide bombings since October. By Tuesday more than 5,000 extra interior troops had surged into the city, carrying out searches that resulted in dozens of detentions, though apparently not of anyone involved in the bombings. |
| The latest bombings — at Volgograd’s railroad station on Sunday and aboard a trolley bus on Monday — have heightened concerns about security here ahead of the Winter Olympics, which begin in less than six weeks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, only 400 miles from Volgograd. Experts have warned that they could be a prelude to a campaign of terror by followers of Russia’s most-wanted militant, Doku Umarov, who in July vowed to disrupt the Olympics. | The latest bombings — at Volgograd’s railroad station on Sunday and aboard a trolley bus on Monday — have heightened concerns about security here ahead of the Winter Olympics, which begin in less than six weeks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, only 400 miles from Volgograd. Experts have warned that they could be a prelude to a campaign of terror by followers of Russia’s most-wanted militant, Doku Umarov, who in July vowed to disrupt the Olympics. |
| In his address, Mr. Putin mentioned Sochi only in passing, citing the coming task of hosting the Games “at the highest level.” On the issue of terrorism, he resorted to the kind of forceful, if less coarse, language that first propelled him to the office when in 1999, as prime minister under President Boris N. Yeltsin, he vowed to hunt down terrorists and, if necessary, “waste them in the outhouse.” | In his address, Mr. Putin mentioned Sochi only in passing, citing the coming task of hosting the Games “at the highest level.” On the issue of terrorism, he resorted to the kind of forceful, if less coarse, language that first propelled him to the office when in 1999, as prime minister under President Boris N. Yeltsin, he vowed to hunt down terrorists and, if necessary, “waste them in the outhouse.” |
| Fourteen years later, despite the end of the second war in Chechnya, Mr. Putin found himself vowing yet again to crush a threat that has now spread across the North Caucasus. | Fourteen years later, despite the end of the second war in Chechnya, Mr. Putin found himself vowing yet again to crush a threat that has now spread across the North Caucasus. |
| “Dear friends, we bow our heads to the victims of violent terrorist attacks,” Mr. Putin said, pledging aid to the victims and reconstruction of the damaged buildings. “I am sure we will continue the fight against terrorists harshly and consistently until their complete destruction.” | “Dear friends, we bow our heads to the victims of violent terrorist attacks,” Mr. Putin said, pledging aid to the victims and reconstruction of the damaged buildings. “I am sure we will continue the fight against terrorists harshly and consistently until their complete destruction.” |
| Mr. Putin delivered his remarks during a previously unannounced visit to Khabarovsk, the capital of the region in the Far East that suffered significant flooding this year that has left thousands of people still living in temporary shelters. In referring to the challenges facing Russia, he included natural disasters like the flooding with the terrorist attacks in Volgograd. “In times of trial, Russia has always been united,” he said. | Mr. Putin delivered his remarks during a previously unannounced visit to Khabarovsk, the capital of the region in the Far East that suffered significant flooding this year that has left thousands of people still living in temporary shelters. In referring to the challenges facing Russia, he included natural disasters like the flooding with the terrorist attacks in Volgograd. “In times of trial, Russia has always been united,” he said. |
| Mr. Putin initially recorded a holiday address that made no mention of the bombings. The video showed him at the Kremlin. It appeared at midnight in Russia’s easternmost regions — Chukotka, Kamchatka and Magadan — and promptly raised questions of whether he intended to continue to avoid the topic. | Mr. Putin initially recorded a holiday address that made no mention of the bombings. The video showed him at the Kremlin. It appeared at midnight in Russia’s easternmost regions — Chukotka, Kamchatka and Magadan — and promptly raised questions of whether he intended to continue to avoid the topic. |
| By the time Mr. Putin arrived in Khabarovsk, however, he had been recorded giving the new remarks, acknowledging that he was breaking with the tradition of leaders’ speaking from the Kremlin. That recording did not reach the other regions in time for broadcast at midnight, but it appeared on state television channels as the New Year arrived in each of the country’s nine time zones. | By the time Mr. Putin arrived in Khabarovsk, however, he had been recorded giving the new remarks, acknowledging that he was breaking with the tradition of leaders’ speaking from the Kremlin. That recording did not reach the other regions in time for broadcast at midnight, but it appeared on state television channels as the New Year arrived in each of the country’s nine time zones. |
| In Volgograd, interior troops and police officers swept through the city carrying out searches that began on Monday night and resulted in the detention of dozens of people for various violations, including improper documents. Mr. Putin had previously ordered heightened security throughout the country, and especially in Volgograd, where the heavy security presence underscored the fear that still more attacks could occur there. | In Volgograd, interior troops and police officers swept through the city carrying out searches that began on Monday night and resulted in the detention of dozens of people for various violations, including improper documents. Mr. Putin had previously ordered heightened security throughout the country, and especially in Volgograd, where the heavy security presence underscored the fear that still more attacks could occur there. |
| An Interior Ministry spokesman, Andrei Pilipchuk, told the Interfax news agency that more than 152 weapons and 10 pounds of illegal drugs had been confiscated after searches in scores of apartment buildings, hotels, and bus and railroad stations. “The city’s life is returning to normal,” he said. | An Interior Ministry spokesman, Andrei Pilipchuk, told the Interfax news agency that more than 152 weapons and 10 pounds of illegal drugs had been confiscated after searches in scores of apartment buildings, hotels, and bus and railroad stations. “The city’s life is returning to normal,” he said. |
| Even so, public gatherings to mark the New Year there were canceled, movie theaters were ordered closed, and security guards thoroughly searched anyone entering shopping centers that would normally be crowded with revelers buying last-minute gifts and food for the holiday. | |
| A health official announced on Tuesday that the death toll had risen in each bombing with the deaths overnight of victims at hospitals. The number of people killed at the train station bombing reached 18, and 16 died in the trolley bus attack. More than 60 people remained hospitalized, with some of the most gravely wounded flown to Moscow for treatment. | |
| The authorities have said male suicide bombers carried out the two attacks, but they have not identified either or announced any arrests related to them. | The authorities have said male suicide bombers carried out the two attacks, but they have not identified either or announced any arrests related to them. |
| News reports based on an unidentified source cited by Interfax on Monday said the investigation had focused on a Muslim convert from the central region of Mari El as the bomber at the train station, but Vladimir I. Markin, the spokesman for Russia’s main investigative agency, said in a telephone interview that the man was not a suspect and that the reports were merely rumors. | News reports based on an unidentified source cited by Interfax on Monday said the investigation had focused on a Muslim convert from the central region of Mari El as the bomber at the train station, but Vladimir I. Markin, the spokesman for Russia’s main investigative agency, said in a telephone interview that the man was not a suspect and that the reports were merely rumors. |
Nikolay Khalip and Viktor Klimenko contributed reporting. | Nikolay Khalip and Viktor Klimenko contributed reporting. |