Explosion at Moscow's airport kills at least 35

Xinhua, January 25, 2011

At least 35 people were killed and over 152 were injured in an explosion at Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Monday, the Russian Health Ministry said.

At least 35 people were killed and over 152 were injured in an explosion at Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Monday.

The Russian Investigative Committee's Transport Investigative Department has confirmed that an explosion occurred at Domodedovo Airport's luggage reclaim zone at the international arrivals terminal.

But a spokesperson for the Federal Customs Services (FTS) told Interfax news agency that the blast happened in the lounge area near the Asia cafe next to an international departure area.

The preliminary reports suggest that it might be a suicide bombing, a source told local media.

Eyewitnesses said two terrorists blew themselves up when people emerged from the international arrivals zone.

"According to available information, an explosion occurred at Domodedovo's arrivals hall at 16:32 Moscow time (1332 GMT)," a spokeswoman for the investigation committee, Tatyana Morozova, said.

The Health Ministry said among the 152 injured, 20 are in serious condition.

A law enforcement source said three men are wanted in connection with the explosion.

"According to intelligence, three men may have been involved in organizing the explosion. They have been living in the region of the Russian capital for some time," the source was quoted by Interfax as saying.

A source said the blast was equivalent to 5-10 kg of TNT.

Eyewitnesses said there was a heavy smoke at the airport and the entry from the arrivals zone has been closed.

After the blast, Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport is accepting planes that were bound for Domodedovo.

Moscow police has tightened the security in the city's other airports and metro system.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who called this blast a terrorist attack, is holding an urgent meeting and ordered measures to ensure security at all Russian airports and transport facilities.

Medvedev has decided to cancel his trip to the annual World Economic Forum in Switzerland's Davos after the deadly blast, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Domodedovo is Moscow's most updated and busiest airport. In 2004, two planes which took off from the airport were blown up by female Chechen suicide bombers, killing a total of 90 people on board.