Metro blast kills 39 Russians
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-02-06 23:07

A suspected suicide bombing ripped through a packed Moscow underground train in the early rush-hour on Friday, killing at least 39 passengers and injuring more than 100.

Police attributed the blast, which blew out windows and ignited a fire, to a suicide bomber and President Vladimir Putin accused Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov of being behind the explosion.

A video grab image shows an injured person from the Avtozovodskaya metro station in Moscow after an explosion on a commuter train, February 6, 2004. [Reuters]

"We do not need any indirect confirmation. We know for certain that Maskhadov and his bandits are linked to this terrorism," he told reporters.

But a spokesman for the fugitive separatist leader denied Maskhadov's involvement in what he described as"a bloody provocation" and condemned the explosion.

The blast occurred at 8:30 am in the second carriage as the train bringing commuters into the city sped through a tunnel towards Moscow's busy Paveletskaya station.

"As of now, there are 39 dead and 129 people being treated for injuries in hospital," Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Chekalin told reporters.

Moscow Deputy Mayor Valery Shantsev said the blast was caused by 5 kilograms of explosives.

One woman said survivors walked about 2 kilometres along the tracks to safety after clambering from the train crammed with morning commuters travelling into the capital.

"I heard a terrible explosion and almost fell over," said 18-year-old student Alexander Maksimov, his face pale and hands shaking."My first thought was to run outside to the fresh air, but from the shock I could hardly move. "

Suicide bomb attacks in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia have been the trademark of Chechen separatists fighting Russian forces for independence in their Muslim Caucasus homeland.

If confirmed, it would be the worst such attack by Chechen suicide bombers in Moscow since July 2003 when two women blew themselves up at an open-air music festival at the Tushino airfield, killing 14 other people.

Putin, widely expected to win a re-election on March 14, used the Chechnya issue to boost his popularity when he was first elected to the Kremlin in 2000.

Talking tough following apartment block bombings in Moscow and two other Russian cities in September 1999 helped him get elected a few months later.

More than 200 people were killed in those attacks for which two Chechen-trained fighters were recently jailed.

Though his high popularity never appears to be dented by such attacks, he said on Friday that he felt such incidents could be used as political ammunition against him in next month's poll, ITAR-TASS news agency said.

A statement, signed by Akhmed Zakayev, on the rebel website www.chechenpress.info said:"The president and government of the (separatist) Chechen Republic of Ichkeria hereby declare that they are in no way connected to this bloody provocation and unequivocally condemn it."

A video grab image shows rescue workers moving an injured person from the Avtozovodskaya metro station in Moscow, February 6, 2004.  [Reuters]

News of the explosion rattled Moscow's financial markets helping send the dollar-denominated RTS index down nearly 2 per cent at the opening. The rouble was also slightly weaker.

Pictures of the inside of the devastated carriage showed bodies lying among twisted metal and shredded seats.

"The explosion was at the front of the second carriage in a tunnel. As soon as the train stopped people began climbing out through windows and doors," an eyewitness who gave her name only as Lyudmila, aged 31, said.

Lyudmila -- her face blackened with soot and using a nasal spray for relief -- said she made her way from the blazing train to safety along the rail track choking on clouds of dust.

Many of those in serious condition were being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning as well as broken limbs and burns.

Other Chechen attacks in Moscow include the October 2002 seizure of 700 theatre-goers at the Dubrovka theatre. A total of 129 hostages and 41 Chechen guerrillas were killed when Russian troops stormed the theatre to end the siege after three days.

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