Jump to content

2010 Moscow Metro bombings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from 2010 Moscow Metro blast)

2010 Moscow Metro bombings
Part of Insurgency in the North Caucasus, Terrorism in Russia and Islamic terrorism in Europe
Central hall of the Lubyanka station
the day after the bombings
LocationMoscow, Russia
DateMarch 29, 2010
7:56/7:57 MSD and 8:37/8:39 MSD (UTC+4)
TargetMoscow Metro
Attack type
Suicide bombings
WeaponsHexogen explosives[citation needed]
DeathsTotal 40:[1]
Lubyanka station: 26
Park Kultury station: 14
Injured102 (88 hospitalized)[1]
PerpetratorCaucasus Emirate[2]
No. of participants
2 women

The 2010 Moscow Metro bombings were suicide bombings carried out by two female Islamic terrorists during the morning rush hour of March 29, 2010, at two stations of the Moscow Metro (Lubyanka and Park Kultury), with roughly 40 minutes in between. At least 40 people were killed, and over 100 injured.

Russian officials called the incident "the deadliest and most sophisticated terrorist attack in the Russian capital in six years",[3] a reference to the Avtozavodskaya and Rizhskaya bombings in 2004. At the time of the attacks, an estimated 500,000 people were commuting through Moscow's metro system.[4]

Initial investigation indicated that the bombings were perpetrated by the militant Islamist[5][6] Caucasus Emirate group.[6][7] On March 31, Caucasus Emirate leader Doku Umarov claimed responsibility for ordering the attacks in a video released on the internet. He also stated that such attacks in Russia would continue unless Russia grants independence to Muslim states in the North Caucasus region.[8] The man who brought the suicide bombers to Moscow was arrested in July 2010.[9] The Anti-Terror Committee of Russia confirmed in August 2010 that Magomedali Vagabov, along with four other militants, was killed in an operation in Dagestan. He is believed to be a militant behind the bombings, a close associate of Doku Umarov and the husband of Mariam Sharipova, one of the two suicide bombers.[10]

Background

[edit]

The bombings were the latest in a series of attacks in Russia since 1994, many attributed to Chechen militants or to the Caucasus Emirate.[11] Since 1999, Chechen separatists gradually shifted away from a pro-western approach of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, becoming strongly influenced by Salafi beliefs which placed them at odds not only with Russia and Pro-Russia Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, but also with a Dagestani population with strong Sufi traditions.[12][13] A mujahideen group[5][6][12][14] claim they are fighting a "holy war",[15] and wish to create an "Emirate" in the Caucasus.[16] Over 5,000 people have been killed and wounded in the Caucasus since 2002.[17]

Suicide bombings

[edit]
Locations of the attacks on a metro map

The first explosion occurred on the Red Arrow – 75 years train at the Lubyanka station at approximately 7:56 am local time (03:56 UTC). The train started from Yugo-Zapadnaya, and stopped at Lubyanka station. Once the train doors opened, explosives worn by a woman standing at the second carriage's second exit detonated. The explosive had a force of up to 1.5 kg of trinitrotoluene (TNT).[citation needed] Fifteen people on board the train, and eleven people on the platform, were killed. One victim from the third carriage died from a head injury caused by an 8 mm (0.31 in) piece of metal.[18]

A second explosion at the Park Kultury station followed at approximately 8:38 am, caused by another female, who at the time of the first explosion was riding another train from Yugo-Zapadnaya towards Ulitsa Podbelskogo station in the same direction as the first train. At the time of first explosion, the second train had stopped in the tunnel between Frunzenskaya and Park Kultury stations. It was announced over the speakers that due to technical problems, the train would have to unload the passengers at the next stop. About 40 minutes later, the train reached the station, and once its doors opened, the second female suspect detonated the second explosion, killing fourteen commuters.[18] Panic included stampedes at both stations, as commuters attempted to escape.[7] The second attack was carried out by a dark-haired woman with the equivalent of 2 kg of TNT strapped to her waist. Both bombs were packed with metal nuts, bolts and screws, to increase the destructive impact of the blasts.[19]

The Red Arrow – 75 years train
upon its first launch

The two women who carried out the attacks wore explosive belts, presumably using detonation devices set inside their mobile phones and activated by a call to self.[20] The attackers intended to strike during peak hours on a weekday when the subway would be at capacity. Eyewitnesses said that some survivors were so badly injured that they constantly splashed heavy amounts of blood on the floor and walls, until they were attended to by doctors.[21]

Alexander Bortnikov, the FSB chief, said its investigation pointed to "terrorist groups related to the North Caucasus".[22]

Casualties

[edit]
Casualty statistics[1]
Nationality[23] Deaths Hospitalized
 Russia 37 75
 Tajikistan 3 1
 Malaysia  – 3
 Philippines  – 1
 Kyrgyzstan  – 1
 Israel  – 1
Unidentified  – 3
Total 40 85

Citizenship of those killed and wounded was updated by the Ministry of Emergency Situations.[1]

Forty people, aged between 16 and 65, were killed in the explosions.[24] This counts a victim who died of her injuries on March 30.[25][26] This figure was revised upwards from an earlier count of 36 killed, that had consisted of 24 people in the explosion at the Lubyanka station and 12 at Park Kultury. Two other people died in the resulting stampede at both the stations after the blast. Three of the dead were minors.[27]

A high-ranking official of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, Captain Viktor Ginkut, was also amongst the passengers killed at Park Kultury station.[28] His residential registry in Sevastopol, Ukraine has raised the question of his actual nationality, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia refused to comment on it.[29]

Over 100 other passengers sustained mild to serious injuries.[7][20] Five of the injured passengers remained in critical condition for an extended period.

Subsequent false alarms

[edit]

A third reportedly failed detonation was announced by Life News roughly 40 minutes later, aimed at one of the two Prospekt Mira stations; however, no explosives were found in the plastic bag, after it was taken from the station.[30] Around 10:04 am local time a call from a public phone announcing another planned explosion was made to the Begovaya station staff, but the caller soon revealed it to be a hoax.[31]

Another hoax occurred about an hour after the second explosion at the Ulitsa Podbelskogo station when passengers noticed a Muslim woman entering the train.[32][33]

Aftermath

[edit]
Overcrowded surface public transport lines on the day of the bombings

Russian television carried little coverage of the attacks for the first hour after the first explosion took place (at 7:57 am). Commentators have criticised this, alleging that it spread more panic and led to citizens feeling helpless.[34][35]

Around 11:00 am local time, a special operation was launched to patrol all the subway stations in search of possible clues to trace the instigators. Squads of local police performed passport control at every station of the Sokolnicheskaya Line.[36]

Commuters leave flowers at the Lubyanka station

March 30 was declared a nationwide Day of Mourning.[37] Prime Minister Vladimir Putin issued a decree ordering the allocation from the Reserve Fund of 300,000 rubles (approx. $11,000 USD) to the families of those killed in the bombings, plus 18,000 rubles for funeral expenses, and of 50,000–100,000 rubles to those who were injured in the attacks, depending on the severity of their injuries.[38][39]

Authorities announced that due to upcoming Easter (Paskha), May 1 International Workers Day and May 9 Victory Day, strict security would be imposed on Moscow's metro network up until May 15, 2010.[40] As a result of the terror bombings, the number of daily commuters in the Moscow metro decreased by 17% the next day.[41]

Follow-up

[edit]

About 48 hours after the Moscow Metro bombings a double suicide bombing hit the Caucasian Republic of Dagestan, killing the city police chief amongst others. Russia immediately drew parallels, saying the two bombings were linked.[citation needed] On April 1 another bombing in Dagestan killed two more people.[citation needed] On April 5, exactly a week after the Moscow attacks, another bombing in Ingushetia targeting a police barracks drew parallels between that and the Dagestan attacks. It was feared that these incidents might lead to an escalation of violence in general.[42]

Investigation

[edit]
Special meeting following
the Moscow metro bombings

According to Interfax news agency, citing law enforcement sources, surveillance cameras captured two women – aged between 18 and 20 – boarding the metro at the Yugo-Zapadnaya station. Police were hunting for one 30-year-old man with North Caucasian features, and two other women of Slavic appearance aged 22 and 45 who had been seen shepherding the bombers into the station.[4] All had their faces uncovered.[43]

Unconfirmed reports said the perpetrators tried to take the explosives to the Russian Ministry of Defense building on Arbat street.[37] Law enforcement also speculated the suicide bombers may have confused the stations, missing one of their original targets – Oktyabrskaya station. They opine that the attackers intended to blow up the Lubyanka station, which is located next to central headquarters of FSB, and then Oktyabrskaya, which is attached to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.[44] Officials suspect that Muslim rebels from the troubled North Caucasus region that includes Chechnya are responsible for the attack.[7][30][45] The link to the Caucasian group[46][47] was immediate. According to preliminary reports, law enforcement were notified about possible terror acts through three telegrams indicating potential threats to Moscow's transport system, but the suicide bombers passed through the security. Unofficial reports the morning before the attacks took place indicate many female passengers of North Caucasian appearance were stopped and checked by Moscow security enforcement under pretence of routine ID verifications, and taken to local precincts.[18]

Commuters leave flowers at the Park Kultury station

The Investigation Committee of the Procuracy of the Russian Federation started a criminal investigation under Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code ("act of terrorism").[48]

Perpetrators

[edit]

Two female natives of Dagestan are believed to have detonated the explosions. Russian authorities released photographs of both women, showing their facial features to be intact and possibly identifiable.[49][50] Russia's FSB security service have named the suicide bomber behind the Park Kultury metro station explosion[51] as Dzhanet Abdullayeva (1992–2010), "black widow" who had lived in the Khasavyurtsky region of Dagestan.[49] She was the widow of 30-year-old Umalat Magomedov, a prominent insurgent killed by Russian forces on December 31, 2009.[52]

Investigators confirmed that the second attacker was Maryam Sharipova, a 28-year-old schoolteacher from Dagestan, after her father identified her body[53] although he claimed she had a degree in mathematics and psychology and taught computer science while never expressing any "radical beliefs". Although, there was some speculation as to whether her brother had been arrested in connection to North Caucassian fighters.[2][54] Police had identified an apartment rented out by two suspected accomplices of the bombers. The men were believed to have accompanied the women to a metro station in the southwest of the city and handed over the bomb belts. They then went back to the apartment where they were said to have remotely detonated the charges. The two were known to police who have put them on a wanted list.[51]

Moscow said that there were an additional twenty-one "black widows" ready to strike, and were studying if the alleged attackers were part of an original group of thirty.[55] Female suicide bombers, known as "black widows," have been involved in suicide bombings on numerous occasions, including 2004 bombings of two passenger planes that took off from Domodedovo International Airport, previous Moscow metro bombings, the Moscow theater hostage crisis, and the Beslan school hostage crisis.[49]

The Caucasus Emirate immediately denied responsibility for the attack, saying that they planned attacks on economic targets inside Russia, but not against civilians. However, the attack followed a warning from Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov the prior month of his intent to spread the Caucasian insurgency to Russian cities.[55]

Two days following the blasts, in a video message posted on a Chechen rebel website, Umarov claimed that his group was behind the bombings and that he had ordered the attacks. He said the Moscow attacks were an act of revenge for the killings of Chechen and Ingush civilians by Russian security forces near Arshty on February 11, and that more attacks would follow.[56]

On March, 29 in Moscow were accomplished two special operations on exterminating kafirs and saying hello to the FSB. Both these operations were accomplished by my order [...] And today, any politician, any journalist, any person that would condemn these operations, accuse me of terrorism, I laugh to his face, I only grin[...]

— Doku Umarov (Amir of the Caucasus Emirate, ex-president of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria), Statement of the Amir of the Caucasus Emirate.[57]

On May 13, FSB director Aleksandr Bortnikov announced that they had identified all members of the group behind the attack and that three of the members were killed during a raid in an attempt to detain them, one of them being the person who escorted the suicide bombers from Dagestan to Moscow.[citation needed] Bortnikov was quoted as saying: "To our great regret, we were unable to detain them alive because they put up fierce armed resistance and were killed."[58]

Reactions

[edit]
President Dmitry Medvedev visits the Lubyanka Metro

Following the attacks, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as well as Ramzan Kadyrov, President of the Chechen Republic, were quick to comment on the attacks.[citation needed]

The attack also sparked condemnation and expressions of condolence from numerous governments and heads of state, as well as international bodies such as NATO, the Council of Europe, and the European Union who also condemned the attacks and/or expressed condolences to the victims' families.[citation needed]

Amongst media reactions, there was controversy about how the Russian media handled the reporting in the first hours after the attack. Outside Russia, the United States increased security and police presence on transit systems in New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Atlanta following the attacks.[59]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "МЧС СПИСКИ погибших и пострадавших при взрывах в метрополитене г. Москва 29.03.2010 г." Ministry of Emergency Situations (Russia). Archived from the original on April 4, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Europe – Chechen rebel claims Moscow attacks". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  3. ^ Pan, Philip P. "Washington Post report, March 29, 2010". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Russian police release subway bomb suspects' photos". CNN. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "/ UK – Authorities blame raids on Islamist terrorists". Ft.com. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c Pan, Philip P. (March 31, 2010). "Russian grief turns to anger toward leaders". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 23, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d NBC and news services (March 29, 2010). "Toll from Moscow subway blasts rises to 39: FSB security service's HQ is in building above one of targeted stations". MSNBC.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  8. ^ "Chechen rebel claims Metro blasts". BBC News. March 31, 2010. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  9. ^ Шесть смертниц готовили новые взрывы – Криминал : ЧП / Archived July 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Infox.ru. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  10. ^ Militant behind Moscow metro blasts killed. Sify.com (August 21, 2010). Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  11. ^ "Timeline: Terrorism in Russia". CNN. February 6, 2004. Archived from the original on April 4, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  12. ^ a b Pan, Philip P. (March 30, 2010). "Russia braces for terrorism's return as 38 die in subway bombings". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  13. ^ Mikhail Roshchin (March 13, 2009). "Caucasus Emirate: Virtual Myth or Reality?". North Caucasus Analysis. 10 (10). Archived from the original on March 24, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  14. ^ Guy Faulconbridge – Analysis (March 26, 2010). "Russia's silent war spills into Moscow". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  15. ^ Guy Faulconbridge – Analysis (February 9, 2009). "Russia's silent war spills into Moscow". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  16. ^ "Timeline: Terrorism in Russia". CNN. February 6, 2004. Archived from the original on April 4, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  17. ^ "(Un)civil Jihad in the Caucasus Emirate". Center for Defense Information. Archived from the original on September 3, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  18. ^ a b c Nikolay Sergeyev (March 30, 2010). "Поезд шахидки" [The train of the suicide bomber]. Kommersant. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  19. ^ "News — Politics — Unclear if Serbs were among victims in Moscow". B92. March 11, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  20. ^ a b "Terrorist acts in Moscow metro were performed by suicide bombers" (in Russian). Lenta.ru. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on March 30, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  21. ^ "Moscow bomb: 'The doctors could not stop the victims' bleeding' - Worldnews.com". Article.wn.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  22. ^ "Moscow Metro bombing masterminds 'will be destroyed'". BBC News. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  23. ^ Главная | Новости Таджикистана-ИА «Азия-Плюс» Archived January 30, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Asiaplus.tj. Retrieved on August 17, 2013.
  24. ^ Moscow Subway-Blasts Mourners Tell Tales Of Lives Lost – Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2011 Archived April 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Rferl.org. Retrieved on January 27, 2011.
  25. ^ Harding, Luke (March 30, 2010). "Moscow metro death toll rises as national day of mourning begins". London: Guardian. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010. "Bombers kill at least 38 in Moscow subway". Reuters. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  26. ^ "Bombers kill at least 38 in Moscow subway". Reuters. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  27. ^ Родные опознали жертв терактов в метро [Relatives identified the victims of the metro terror acts] (in Russian). Life News. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  28. ^ При взрыве в московском метро погиб капитан первого ранга ЧФ РФ [During the bombings in Moscow metro, captain of RF Black Fleet died] (in Russian). Ria Novosti. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  29. ^ МИД отказался комментировать информацию о двойном гражданстве погибшего в Москве жителя Севастополя (in Russian). Bigmir.net. March 31, 2010. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  30. ^ a b "Moscow Metro hit by deadly suicide bombings". BBC. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on March 29, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  31. ^ "Moscow police (GUVD) disproved information about third and fourth explosions" (in Russian). Top.rbc.ru. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  32. ^ "According to preliminary data, explosions at Moscow underground stations Lubyanka and Park Kultury were performed by female suicide bombers" (in Russian). Ekho Moskvy. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  33. ^ "Suicide bombers went down to the underground" (in Russian). RBCdaily. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  34. ^ "Russia media criticise Kremlin over Moscow Metro bombs, BBC". BBC News. March 17, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  35. ^ Greenslade, Roy (April 1, 2010). "Why Russian TV networks waited two hours to report bombings". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  36. ^ Московское метро атаковано террористами (in Russian). Top.rbc.ru. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  37. ^ a b "В связи с произошедшими взрывами в Москве 30 марта объявлен Днем траура" [Day of Mourning will be held in Moscow on March 30 in relation to the bombings]. First Channel. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  38. ^ "Families of Moscow metro attacks will be paid 300,000 rubles – government decree". Interfax. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  39. ^ Stack, Megan K (March 29, 2010). "Suicide bombers hit two Moscow subway stations". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  40. ^ "Усиленные меры безопасности сохранятся в метро Москвы до 15 мая – Гаев" [Beefed up security in Moscow metro will be kept until May 15 – Gaev] (in Russian). Ria Novosti. March 31, 2010. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  41. ^ Пассажиропоток в метро Москвы во вторник сократился почти на 20% [Passenger commute at Moscow metro decreased by almost 20% on Tuesday] (in Russian). Ria Novosti. March 31, 2010. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  42. ^ Police targeted in Ingushetia blast – Europe Archived June 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Al Jazeera English (April 5, 2010). Retrieved on January 27, 2011.
  43. ^ Harding, Luke (March 29, 2010). "Moscow bombings: Putin vows to destroy group behind attacks". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  44. ^ Lena Chuguy (March 29, 2010). "Террористки-смертницы могли перепутать станции метро" [Suicide bombers could have confused the metro stations]. Argumenty i Fakty. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  45. ^ Levy, Clifford (March 30, 2010). "Moscow Attack a Test for Putin and His Record Against Terror". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  46. ^ "UPI NewsTrack TopNews". UPI.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  47. ^ was immediate. According to preliminary reports
  48. ^ "Underground — explosions" (in Russian). Expert.ru. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  49. ^ a b c Osborn, Andrew (March 29, 2010). "Moscow bombing: who are the Black Widows". London: Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  50. ^ "Russian police release subway bomb suspects's photos". CNN. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  51. ^ a b Teenage widow behind Moscow blast – Europe Archived April 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Al Jazeera English (April 2, 2010).Retrieved on January 27, 2011.
  52. ^ Faulconbridge, Guy (April 2, 2012). "Russia says Moscow bomber was teenage "Black Widow"". Reuters. Moscow. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  53. ^ Second Moscow bomber identified – Europe Archived April 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Al Jazeera English (April 7, 2010). Retrieved on January 27, 2011.
  54. ^ 'Dagestan teacher is Moscow bomber' – Europe Archived April 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Al Jazeera English (April 5, 2010). Retrieved on January 27, 2011.
  55. ^ a b Grove, Thomas (March 31, 2010). "Islamist group says not behind Moscow bombs". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  56. ^ "Chechen rebel says he ordered Moscow Metro attacks". BBC. March 31, 2010. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  57. ^ "Заявление Амира Имарата Кавказ Докку Абу Усмана. 29.03.2010". YouTube. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  58. ^ "Moscow attack 'planners' killed". BBC News. May 13, 2010. Archived from the original on May 16, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  59. ^ Scott, Megan K. (March 29, 2010). "US transit security increased over Moscow blast". The Guardian. London. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
[edit]
External media
Images
image icon View 1 of Lubyanka platform
image icon View 2 of Lubyanka platform
image icon View 3 of Lubyanka platform
Video
video icon Russia Today Report
video icon Park Kulturi station after the act of terror