Moscow Metro Hit By Bomb Blasts

The Moscow metro has this morning been rocked by twin bombings hitting Lubyanka and Park Kultury stations during the peak rush hour period.

Early reports indicate that at least 40 people have been killed, but that number could rise as the dust literally has not settled yet.

The Moscow metro has this morning been rocked by twin bombings hitting Lubyanka and Park Kultury stations during the peak rush hour period.

The Moscow metro has this morning been rocked by twin bombings hitting Lubyanka and Park Kultury stations during the peak rush hour period.

Early reports indicate that at least 40 people have been killed, but that number could rise as the dust literally has not settled yet.

The Moscow metro has this morning been rocked by twin bombings hitting Lubyanka and Park Kultury stations during the peak rush hour period.

Early reports indicate that at least 40 people have been killed, but that number could rise as the dust literally has not settled yet.

These were clearly intentional bombings, and initial suspicion has naturally fallen on Chechen separatists. The Park Kultury is near the center of town but Lubyanka may have been chosen for symbolic value, as it is the station closest to the headquarters of the FSB intelligence services (the former KGB).

[br]From RIA Novosti, the Russian News service:

The first terrorist attack on the Russian capital for six years killed over 30 people as two terrorist bombs ripped through the central Moscow metro system during Monday morning’s rush hour.

The first attack took place at 7:52 a.m. (04:52 GMT) at the Lubyanka station, located a short distance from the headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB), and killed at least 23 people, with another 18 injured.

The second blast detonated some 40 minutes later at the nearby Park Kultury station, within walking distance of the Kremlin. At least 12 people lost their lives and 15 were injured.

The FSB said female suicide bombers were responsible for both attacks.

[br]From Startfor:

So far, Chechen militants are the number one suspect, as they are suspected to have carried out suicide attacks on Moscow’s metro network before (the most recent being the 2004 attacks in which a suicide bomber killed 41 people near Paveletskaya station).

To determine more precisely what happened and who was responsible for this attack, we are looking for these key clues that include:

Evidence of shrapnel. The presence of objects such as nails, ball bearings or other, small iron scraps would indicate that the attackers were attempting to maim and kill as many as possible not necessarily by creating a big explosion, but by packing a smaller explosive device with shrapnel that would increase the killing capacity. Chechen suicide devices have typically contained metal shrapnel in the past.

Type of explosive used. This will go a long ways toward telling us who was likely responsible for the attack. Chechens typically use TNT, or what is often referred to in Russia as “Tritonal.”

The sex of the bomber (if a suicide bomber was involved). Chechen militants have frequently deployed female suicide bombers in the past, as they typically attract less scrutiny from security officers and have proven to successfully carry out suicide attacks.

Finally, we are also watching carefully for any claims of attacks. There are a dozens of different Chechen militant groups who could claim this attack within the coming hours or days. These are sometimes dubious, however, as groups are opportunistic when it comes to claiming credit for attacks against Moscow.