Moscow Terror Blast Survivors Remain in Hospital

A man lays flowers at the Avtozavodskaya metro station in Moscow, February 7, 2004. Russian security forces launched a massive hunt on Saturday after a powerful explosion, apparently set off by a suicide bomber, ripped through a packed underground train in Moscow in morning rush-hour on Friday, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 100. Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters

107 survivors of the powerful blast that struck a subway car during rush hour Friday morning remain in Moscow hospitals. 29 victims are still in critical condition and 44 remain in serious condition. Families are mourning the loss of their loved ones; 39 were killed and officials have been able to identify 20 victims thus far.
The explosion is suspected to have been caused by terrorists, however an investigation is ongoing since no group has come forward to claim responsibility. A terrorist act seems possible, Sergei Ignatchenko, chief of the Federal Security Service's public-relations center, told RIA-NOVOSTI.

In his words, investigators have been working at the scene; moreover, a coordinating center has been established for investigating this outrage.
The blast occurred at 8.45 a.m., during the rush hour, while the train was moving from Paveletskaya to Avtozavodskaya along the Zamoskvoretskaya line. All subway traffic along the Zamoskvoretskaya line (one of the city’s busiest lines) was stopped immediately after the blast. According to rescue workers at the scene, the subway car was fully engulfed in smoke and flames.

Viktor Ozerov, Chairman of the Federation Council (the upper house of the Russian parliament) security and defence committee is sure that the cause of the explosion in the Moscow metro was a planned terrorist act.

What has happened confirms this, he said in interview with RIA Novosti.

An elderly Russian woman lights a candle for the peace of the subway attack victims' souls in a Moscow Orthodox church, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004. A bomb blew apart a subway car packed with rush hour commuters Friday morning, killing 39 people and wounding more than 130 in the deadliest terrorist attack in Moscow since Russia launched its second war in Chechnya in 1999. Sergey Ponomarev / AP Photo

According to Ozerov, no possible problems within the workings of the Moscow Metro system could lead to such a powerful explosion. "Metro does not work on gasoline, and even a short circuit could not cause such an explosion and such a fire," the senator said.

"That is why we can speak only about the terrorist act," he pointed out.

At the same time Ozerov believes that no special security measures can be introduced in the Moscow metro. "We cannot place a metal finder at each station," he believes.

Source: RIA NOVOSTI and RIA NOVOSTI correspondent Mariya Balynina

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Bush Indignant with Moscow Metro Blast

WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 6 (By Arkady Orlov, RIA Novosti) - US President George W. Bush is most harshly denouncing this morning's Moscow metro blast, says Scott McLellan, White House press secretary.

President Bush condoles with families bereaved in the terror act. The USA is together with Russia, and shares its firm determination to put the criminals in the dock, stressed Mr. McLellan.

He mentioned a telephone conversation, earlier in the day, between Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin of Russia. As the two presidents confirmed, they remain determined to stay close allies on the anti-terror cause.

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The White House

Statement by the President

February 6, 2004

I condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack on the Moscow subway. I join the American people in grieving for the victims and for their families. No cause ever justifies the killing of innocent life.

The United States stands with Russia in opposing terrorist acts and in our determination to bring the perpetrators to justice.