UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday strongly condemned the suicide bombings that took place in Moscow metro stations in the morning rush hour, which left at least 38 people killed.

"The secretary-general strongly condemns the twin suicide bombings that took place in Moscow's subway this morning, causing the tragic loss of many innocent lives and injuries to many other people," said a statement issued by Ban's spokesman here.

"The secretary-general is confident that the Russian authorities will bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous terrorist attack," the statement said.

"The secretary-general extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of the Russian Federation," the statement said. "He also wishes the many injured a swift recovery."

At least 38 people have been killed after two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on Moscow Metro trains in the morning rush hour, reports said. Twenty-four died in the first blast at 7: 56 a.m. local time (0356 GMT) as a train stood at the central Lubyanka station, beneath the offices of Federal Security Service (FSB), the Russian intelligence agency. About 40 minutes later, a second explosion ripped through a train at Park Kultury, leaving another 14 dead.