Moscow: Suicide attacks in metro (UPDATED: Chechen group takes responsibility)

BREAKING: Metro attacks in Moscow

Update 6: Russian site Lifenews.ru reports that 20 minutes before the bombs exploded, the women were seen praying. The site reports that an undetonated explosives belt was found in one of the cars which were blown up in Park Kulturij. It was supposed to be worn by one of the suicide bombers, and was more powerful than the one that did go off.

The women supposedly carried 6 kg of explosives with them. (via VG)


Update 5: The Russian security service says the two bombers were 'black widows'. The attacks might be revenge for recent operations in Chechnya. It might also be a response to the recent killing of Said Buryatsk in Ingushetia.

Update 4: Police are now searching for two women who were caught on camera leading the suicide bombers.

Update 3: CNN reports that a Chechen separatist site claimed responsibility for the attack.

Update 2: Contrary to some reports, Russian authorities say there was no third blast.

Update 1: Suicide bombers set off the explosions. According to one report, they were female bombers.


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At least 40 people have been killed and scores more injured as two explosions ripped through the Moscow metro at the height of rush hour this morning.


The first blast at the Lubyanka station in central Moscow happened at 0756 (0356 GMT) killing 22 people.


The headquarters of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), successor to the Soviet-era KGB, is located above the station which is just yards away the Kremlin.


The second explosion happened 45 minutes later at Park Kultury at 0838 (0438 GMT), killing at least 12 more people. "There are killed and injured," a security source said.


No group immediately took responsibility for the blasts but suspicion is likely to fall on groups from Russia's North Caucasus, where Moscow is fighting a growing Islamist insurgency.



Russian emergencies ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said the first explosion happened as a metro train stopped at the station as it was packed with peak hour commuters.


"The blast hit the second carriage of a metro train that stopped at Lubyanka,", she said. "Fourteen people died in the wagon of the train and 11 on the platform," said Ms Andrianova. At least 10 people were wounded, she said. The second blast also took place in a train carriage while it was stationary at the platform, she added.


Security sources told the state Interfax news agency the blast could have been caused by a suicide bomber. Authorities have opened a criminal investigation into terrorism, a spokesman of the investigative committee of prosecutors said.



(more)

Source: Times Online (English)

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