Tuesday, 25 Jan 2011
(NewsCore) – The Moscow airport blast that killed 35 people and wounded more than 100 others possibly involved a female suicide bomber from Russia’s predominantly Muslim North Caucasus, Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted a security source as saying Tuesday.
“The explosion occurred the moment the presumed female suicide bomber opened her bag,” the state-run agency quoted the unnamed security official as saying. “The terrorist was accompanied by a man. He was standing beside her and [the blast] tore off his head.”
Pope Benedict XVI joined world leaders in condemning the attack Tuesday, describing the suicide bombing as a “grave act of violence.”
Russian president Dmitry Medvedev vowed to “liquidate” the militants behind the attack.
“Terrorism remains the main security threat to our state,” Medvedev said in televised remarks after observing a moment of silence during which he could be seen choking back tears. “We have to do everything to make sure that the bandits who committed this crime are identified, exposed and brought to court, and the nests of these bandits — or whatever they may be called — must be liquidated.”
The Russian premier was scheduled to fly to Switzerland for this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos but postponed the trip.
Sources told RIA Novosti that the attack bore all the hallmarks of militants from the overwhelmingly Muslim Caucasus region, who were behind a string of attacks in the Russian capital over the last few years.
Earlier reports said one suicide bomber shouted “I’ll kill you all” before the massive blast ripped through the packed arrivals hall at Moscow’s busiest airport.
Shocking CCTV footage of the deadly explosion at Domodedovo Airport at 4:32pm local time Monday was handed over to investigators.
Law enforcement said the bomb had the equivalent power of 11 pounds of TNT and was packed with metal objects to maximize the potential damage. Many victims reportedly had metal fragments embedded in their bodies.
Among the dead was Ukrainian playwright Anna Mashutina, 29, who had arrived in the Russian capital on her way to collect a prize, officials and colleagues said Tuesday.
US President Barack Obama led global condemnation of the bombing, calling it “outrageous” and vowing to stand against those who use terror tactics.
“I strongly condemn this outrageous” act, Obama said, quoted by White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. “Any assistance that the government of Russia needs or wants, we certainly stand ready to help,” Gibbs added.
Some reports said that two Britons, Gordon Campbell Cousland and Kirill Budrashov, were among those killed, but the UK’s Foreign Office said Cousland was the only confirmed British fatality. It was investigating whether a second British national was also killed.
Cousland, 39, had a baby daughter and was due to be married in April, Sky News reported. He worked as an analyst for London marketing firm CACI, specializing in European retail property research.
“He had tremendous energy and enthusiasm for his clients’ projects and will be sadly missed by colleagues, friends and associates alike,” said a spokesman for CACI.
No group yet claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack, but Russia is battling a Muslim insurgency in the North Caucasus, and previous terror attacks have targeted Moscow.

Severed head found at Moscow airport thought to belong to suicide bomber

(NewsCore) – The severed head of a suspected suicide bomber was located Monday after a massive bomb ripped through a bustling Russian airport, killing at least 35 people and injuring dozens more.
The explosion brought devastation to the arrivals hall of Domodedovo Airport, the busiest of Moscow’s three airports, at 4:32pm local time.

RELATED: Female suicide bomber suspected >>>

Law enforcement officials told the RIA Novosti news agency that the bomb, which was detonated close to a cafe, had the equivalent power of five kilos (11 lbs) of TNT. It was packed with metal objects to maximize the potential damage.
Sky News reported that a British citizen, and possibly a second, were killed, citing the Russian Prosecutor’s Office. An Italian and a Frenchman were among the estimated 130 people injured, 20 of whom were gravely ill, Russian media said.
“Burned people are running about … they are carrying pieces of flesh on stretchers,” a shaken eyewitness named Andrei was quoted as saying by AFP.
“Me and my colleague were thrown against the wall, we were hit hard. We were only saved by the fact that there were a lot of people around us,” said rental company worker Alexei Spiridonov.
“We jumped up and tried to help [the] wounded. Body parts lay around, there was blood everywhere. It was an awful picture,” he told Russia’s LifeNews
News reports in Russia suggested the atrocity was the work of one, or possibly two, suicide bombers who may have had assistance from several accomplices.
The Interfax news agency said that a severed head found at the bomb site, a “meet and greet” area accessible to the public, was believed to be that of the bomber.
“We found the head of a man of Arab appearance, aged 30 to 35. It seems he detonated the explosive device,” a law enforcement source told the agency.
Further Russian reports said that three men were being hunted by authorities, who described the bombing as an “act of terror.”
RIA Novosti suggested security agencies had been tipped off about the attack but were unable to stop it.
“The special services had received information that an act of terror would be carried out at one of the Moscow airports,” a security source told the state-run news agency.
“Agents were seeking three suspects but they managed to access the territory of the airport, witness the explosion which their accomplice carried out and then leave the airport,” the source reportedly said.
Planes from Dusseldorf, Odesa and London landed at Domodedovo shortly before the attack. A British Airways plane arrived there 46 minutes before the explosion and a Bmi (British Midland International) flight touched down just minutes earlier.
Britain’s Foreign Office was urgently trying to confirm whether or not any of those killed were British.
The airport is used by United Airlines but State Department spokesman, David Siefkin, told Fox News that to his knowledge, no US citizens were hurt. However he added that officials were monitoring the situation.
No group claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack but Russia is battling a Muslim insurgency in the North Caucasus, and previous terror attacks have targeted Moscow.
President Barack Obama led global condemnation of the bombing, calling it “outrageous” and vowing to stand against those who use terror tactics.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the bloodshed.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the current NATO secretary-general, condemned the bombing on his Twitter account.
“Deeply disturbed about the terror attack in Moscow and I strongly condemn it. NATO and Russia stand together in the fight against terrorism,” he posted.
Meanwhile, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev ordered a security blitz across the country’s transport hubs.
Measures were heightened at Moscow’s other two passenger airports, with all luggage being searched and staff examining footage from terminal security cameras. Police were also checking subways and busy pedestrian areas, Interfax said.
“We mourn the victims of the terrorist attack at Domodedovo airport. The organizers will be tracked down and punished,” Medvedev said.
The Russian premier had been scheduled to fly to Switzerland for this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos but he postponed his trip.
Last March, Moscow was targeted by two female suicide bombers, both from the North Caucasus region of Dagestan, who killed 40 people in coordinated attacks on the city’s subway network during the morning rush hour.
Domodedovo is located 26 miles (42 km) from central Moscow. It hosts 77 airlines with more than 22 million passengers estimated to have traveled through the airport in 2010.