RUSSIA: President Dmitry Medvedev orders investigators to root out culprits behind deadly bombing at Moscow's Domodedovo airport

Record ID: 644122

  • Title: RUSSIA: President Dmitry Medvedev orders investigators to root out culprits behind deadly bombing at Moscow's Domodedovo airport
  • Date: 26th January 2011
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JANUARY 25, 2011) (REUTERS) DOMODEDOVO AIRPORT EXTERIOR PEOPLE EXITING AIRPORT VARIOUS OF INTERIOR OF AIRPORT AND PEOPLE WITH BAGGAGE FLOWERS ON GROUND AND PEOPLE PASSING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LAYING FLOWERS ON FLOOR MAN AND WOMAN WAITING TO MEET FAMILY IN ARRIVALS HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOSCOW RESIDENT, VERA, SAYING: "I'm really sorry about this of course. You know, it's really unjust that those people, completely innocent, were punished for no reason. It's really brutal. These people had plans, they were thinking about something. And they were just unexpectedly, unfairly interrupted. It's just awful." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN AIRPORT HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MAN, IBRAGIM, SAYING: "Well, I think everything will end up ok and there won't be a problem. Of course it's not nice - all that. Nobody wanted this. We're also really disappointed. We live in Russia, it means we're Russian citizens - we wanted to remain in peace." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN AIRPORT HALL EXTERIOR OF AIRPORT
  • Embargoed: 10th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1CQ83UWMG9PCGG3WZDKQBKAQF
  • Story Text: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev orders investigators to root out the culprits behind a deadly bombing at Russia's busiest airport, as people at the blast site lay flowers in memory of the victims.
    Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered investigators on Tuesday (January 25) to root out the culprits behind a deadly bombing at Russia's busiest airport and threatened sackings over security lapses he said had aided the attack.
    Talking tough a day after the suspected suicide bombing at Moscow's Domodedovo airport that killed at least 35 people, Medvedev echoed demands that have followed previous attacks blamed on militants from Russia's troubled North Caucasus region.
    "I think that it's especially obvious to everyone in this room, everything must be done to find, expose and bring the bandits who committed this crime to court -- and the nests of these bandits, however deep they have dug in, must be liquidated," Medvedev told Federal Security Service chiefs.
    Medvedev lashed out at law enforcement and airport authorities over the attack at Domodedovo, an international hub and major gateway to Russia, which killed at least eight foreigners.
    As at many other airports worldwide, there are usually few, if any, security barriers to people entering the arrivals area at Domodedovo and other Moscow airports.
    But Medvedev said the management of Domodedovo should answer for the attack. He said security rules had been strengthened after bombers blew up two planes that took off from the same airport in 2004, killing 90 people.
    "The sequence of events on the same site makes us think about the critical problems in the operation of the airport. If the airport is dealing with such a big number of people, and is a modern and generally good airport, it should provide all conditions for the security control of passengers and baggage. For that reason, we should investigate if this was done, and not just pass the responsibility to the police," said Medvedev.
    He ordered the Interior Ministry to recommend transport security officials for dismissal and said authorities found culpable would be held responsible, suggesting they could face prosecution. He urged officials to develop a system that would provide for "total checks" on people and bags at airports.
    The blast ripped through the international arrivals area where travellers emerge after collecting their bags, causing carnage and filling the hall with smoke.
    Cleaners spruced up the scene of the attack early Tuesday morning, as passengers passed through slightly heightened security checkpoints.
    With airport operations continuing as normal, many came to honour the victims, bringing flowers and lighting candles. Many expressed their sorrow at Monday's events.
    "I'm really sorry about this of course. You know, it's really unjust that those people, completely innocent, were punished for no reason. It's really brutal. These people had plans, they were thinking about something. And they were just unexpectedly, unfairly interrupted. It's just awful," said Vera from Moscow, waiting in one of the airport's halls for her relatives to arrive.
    Others at the airport expressed their regret at the events, and their desire for continued peace.
    "Well, I think everything will end up ok and there won't be a problem. Of course it's not nice - all that. Nobody wanted this. We're also really disappointed. We live in Russia, it means we're Russian citizens - we wanted to remain in peace," said another man, Ibragim, waiting in Domodedovo's main lobby.
    Domodedovo is 26 miles south east of the centre of Moscow and is the largest of the capital's three major airports, serving more than 22 million people last year.
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