Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today vowed to "destroy" the terrorists, who were behind<br/>the blasts at two metro stations in Moscow, and is rushing to the capital after cutting short his visit to Siberia.<br/>He described the blasts a crime with horrible consequences and heinous in nature committed against peaceful citizens in Moscow.<br/>Putin said in a televised statement during a meeting with his key cabinet colleagues through video conference.the law enforcement agencies will do everything to trace and punish the criminals and the terrorists will be destroyed.<br/>Earlier at his Kremlin meeting with security chiefs, President Dmitry Medvedev declared that the line to suppress terror and combat terrorism will continue.<br/>Meanwhile, a day of mourning has been declared tomorrow in Moscow to express solidarity with the victims of<br/>the terror strike.<br/><br/>Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in central Moscow's subway during the morning rush hours today killing at least 36 people and wounding 60 others. Earlier reports put the death toll as 40.<br/>Though no organisation claimed responsibility for the attacks, Chief of the Federal Security Service blamed the militant groups active in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region -Chechnya for the deadly blasts.<br/>The first suspected bomber wearing an explosive belt<br/>struck at the Lubyanka station under the the Federal Security<br/>Service headquarters near Kremlin, claiming 24 lives.<br/>Forty minutes later, the second bomber hit a moving train<br/>at the Park Kultury station near the famous Gorky Park killing<br/>at least 12 people.<br/>The Moscow subway system is one of the world's busiest, carrying more<br/>than seven million passengers every day.<br/>Emergency Ministry said, It was the handiwork of female suicide bombers and the toll could rise as the condition of some of the wounded is stated to be critical.<br/>The bodies of the suicide bombers were recovered from the blast sites on both the stations.<br/>FSB Chief Gen Alexander Bortnikov said in a televised statement at a Kremlin meeting summoned by President Dmitry Medvedev that the 'handwriting' of the blasts it points to the involvement of militant groups active in North Caucasus.<br/>The blasts in the underground railway stations have revived the nightmare Moscow had witnessed on February 6, 2004 when a suicide bomb blast on a moving metro train had claimed<br/>42 lives. Same year in August in a botched attack 10 people were killed outside another metro station.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, India today said that it stands united with Russia in combating the forces of violence and terrorism. Describing the twin blasts in Moscow as most horrific act of violence the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in a letter to President Medvedev expressed India's solidarity with Russia. In a statement the Ministry of External Affairs expressed the hope that the perpetrators of these senseless attacks will be brought to justice. India also reiterated its conviction that only collective efforts by the international community can combat the scourge of terrorism that the world is facing today. <br/><br/>U.S. President Barack Obama today condemned the twin bomb attacks in Moscow's subway system and offered his condolences to the Russian people. In a written statement Mr.Obama said the American people stand united with the people of Russia in opposition to violent extremism and heinous terrorist attacks that demonstrate such disregard for human life. According to Russian news agencies, at least 37 people were killed and 102 others injured in two explosions that hit the Moscow subway system this morning.
News On AIR | March 29, 2010 8:06 PM
Putin vows to 'destroy' terrorists,rushes to Moscow cutting short Siberia visit