Suicide bombs kill 35 on Moscow subway

Clivebenss SG

MOSCOW – Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on Moscow's subway system as it was jam-packed with rush-hour passengers Monday, killing at least 35 people and wounding more than 30, the city's mayor and other officials said.

Emergency Ministry spokeswoman Svetlana Chumikova said 23 people were killed at the Lubyanka station in central Moscow. The station is underneath the building that houses the main offices of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, the KGB's main successor agency.

A second explosion hit the Park Kultury station about 45 minutes later. Chumikova said at least 12 were dead there.

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said both explosions were believed to have been set off by female suicide bombers as the trains entered the stations. In the first case, officials said the explosion was on the train; there was no immediate information on the location of the second blast.

"The first data that the FSB has given us is that there were two female suicide bombers," Luzhkov told reporters at the Park Kultury site.

Russia's top investigative body also said terrorism was suspected.

The last confirmed terrorist attack in Moscow was in August 2004, when a suicide bomber blew herself up outside a city subway station, killing 10 people.

Responsibility for that blast was claimed by Chechen rebels and suspicion in Monday's explosions is likely to focus on them and other separatist groups in the restive North Caucasus region.

The Moscow subway system is one of the world's busiest, carrying around 7 million passengers on an average workday, and is a key element in running the sprawling and traffic-choked city.

The blasts practically paralyzed movement in the city center as emergency vehicles sped to the stations. Helicopters hovered over the Park Kultury station area, which is near the renowned Gorky Park.

Passengers, many of them in tears, streamed out of the station, one man exclaiming over and over "This is how we live!"

At least a dozen ambulances were on the scene.

___

Associated Press Writer Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed to this report.

As romanista2001 SG

looks like Israel is hell bent on dragging Russia into another conflict in the Caucasus............oil is the curse of that region.

QX179R SG

S'pore strongly condemns acts of violence in Moscow metro bombings

SINGAPORE : Singapore has strongly condemned the acts of violence at two metro stations in central Moscow on Monday morning.

In a letter to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: "Please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of lives caused by the bomb explosions... We strongly condemn these wanton acts of violence.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with your people, especially the victims and their families."

In his letter to Russia's President, Dmitry Medvedev, President S R Nathan said he learned with shock and sadness of the bomb explosions.

And he extended, on behalf of the people of Singapore, his sympathies and condolences to President Medvedev and his people, especially to those who have lost loved ones or were injured in the "heinous terrorist attack".

- CNA/al

Daveteo SG

omg..

Clivebenss SG

Female suicide bombers kill 38 on Moscow metro
Posted: 30 March 2010 0025 hrs- CNA

QX179R SG

Moscow vows avenge

MOSCOW - MOSCOW held a day of mourning on Tuesday for the 38 victims of twin rush-hour suicide bombings on packed metro trains, as Russian leaders pledged to hunt down and wipe out those behind the attacks.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vowed those responsible for Monday's bombings would be 'destroyed' as authorities pointed the finger at militants from the Northern Caucasus for the deadliest attack in the Russian capital for half a decade.

President Dmitry Medvedev, while visiting the site of one of the bombings to lay a wreath of red roses, pledged 'we will find and wipe out' those behind the blasts, calling them 'wild beasts.'

The first explosion shortly before 8.00am (0400 GMT, 12.00pm Singapore time) ripped through a train that had stopped in the Lubyanka station just below the headquarters of Russia's FSB security service, the successor to the Soviet KGB.

About 40 minutes later, a second explosion went off in a carriage of a train on the platform at the Park Kultury metro station, named after Moscow's iconic Gorky Park.

Officials said the attacks were carried out by women wearing belts packed with explosives, marking a return of the so-called 'Black Widows' who terrorised Moscow a decade ago with a string of attacks. -- AFP

As romanista2001 SG

wouldn't be surprised the bombing was carried out by Russian govt and then they blamed it on the Chechens so they can whack Chechnya..............these kind of tricks have been used for decades........