40 killed in Moscow Metro double suicide bomb attacks

In a double suicide bomb attacks on the Moscow Metro, in the morning rush hour yesterday, at least 38 people were killed and more than 60 injured, according to reports.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promised to find those responsible, saying: "Terrorists will be destroyed." He described the attacks, believed to have been carried out by female bombers, as heinous. Putin said in his televised statement during a meeting with his key cabinet colleagues through video conference.

President Dmitry Medvedev, who visited the scene of one of the attacks and laid a wreath, labelled those behind the attack "animals" . "We will find and destroy them all."

The Moscow city government declared Tuesday today as a day of mourning to express solidarity with the victims of the worst terror strike since February 2004.

The first explosion tore through a carriage of a train at central Lubyanka station at 0756 (0356 GMT) as it stood waiting for commuters to board.

The second explosion, six stops away at Park Kultury, came at 0838 (0438 GMT). It hit the back of the train as people were getting on board.

The city's Metro is one of the busiest underground railways in the world, carrying about 5.5 million passengers a day. The system was partially disrupted following the attacks, but damage to the stations was minimal and both had reportedly reopened by the evening rush hour.

No group has claimed responsibility but security services have blamed rebels from the North Caucasus - a region including Chechnya and Ingushetia.

- Asian Tribune -