Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

A woman pushes her luggage past flowers at the site of Monday's explosion at Domodedovo. AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev
Russia

Russian officials fired over Moscow airport bombing

Investigation into Monday’s suicide bomb attack on Domedovo airport continues to suspect North Causasus militants, as Putin says no apparent link with Chechen fighters.

SEVERAL TOP RUSSIAN TRANSPORT officials have been fired following Monday’s deadly suicide bomb attack on Moscow’s Domodedovo airport.

Thirty-five people were killed and over 100 were injured in the attack inside the airport’s arrivals hall.

Blaming lax security for the explosion, President Medvedev said yesterday via Twitter that “law enforcement and government officials responsible for transport security will be held to account”.

An interior transport minister, the head of the Domodedovo airport police and his two deputies were fired by Medvedev, according to Russia Today.

The investigation into the bombing continues.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that initial inquiries suggest that the attack has no connection with Chechen separatists, Interfax reports. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but security officials told Reuters that they believe the suicide bomber was linked to North Caucasus Islamic militant groups.

Reuters also reports that Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets says that another bombing was planned for New Year’s Eve in Moscow city, but that attempt was foiled when the device detonated prematurely.

The AP reports that although the Domodedovo attack will prompt a review of security procedures for general-access areas at airports, it is unlikely to cause the introduction of more stringent measures.

Domodedovo continued to operate, albeit at a reduced capacity, on Monday evening after the attack.

CCTV footage of the explosion at Domodedovo on Monday: