News

25-01-2011

Russian president criticizes airport after blast

CNN -- Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev Tuesday criticized the management of Moscow's busiest airport, a day after 35 people were killed in a suicide bombing there.

Medvedev was quoted in several Russian news agencies saying that the management of Domodedovo Airport should be held responsible for the attack because of insufficient security measures.

The blast occurred around 4:30 p.m. at the entrance of the international arrivals section of Domodedovo Airport.

Who are the suspects?

There were scores wounded and authorities were still trying to tally the exact toll of those injured in the blast.
Inside Moscow's Domodedovo Airport
Gallery: Terrorist bombing at Moscow airport
Map: Domodedovo airport
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* Moscow
* Domodedovo International Airport
* Russia

Russian Health Minister Tatyana Golikova said Monday that 35 people died in the blast and 93 people were hospitalized. Forty-one of those injured were in serious or critical condition, she said. Some people were given care outside of the hospital, while others were treated for hearing loss, fractures and smoke inhalation.

Earlier, the Russian National Anti-Terrorist Committee had said 35 people died and 152 were wounded in the explosion.

Domodedovo is 22 kilometers (14 miles) southeast of Moscow. According to the airport's website, it is the largest of Moscow's three airports, as well as the busiest in terms of passenger traffic.

It was still not immediately clear who was responsible for Monday's blast, though previous terror attacks in Russia have been blamed on militants from the North Caucasus region.

In 2004, two airplanes that took off from Domodedovo exploded, killing at least 89 people in an attack linked to Chechen suicide bombers.

An explosive device derailed an express train in November 2009, killing at least 26 people.

Chechen rebels were blamed again.