Moscow's Domodedovo Airport has been rocked by a possible suicide bomb attack. Image: Wikimedia Commons
In Russia’s Domodedovo Airport, explosion and a possible suicide bomber has attacked the baggage claim area. Initial reports say that more than 30 people have been killed and hundreds injured. Domodedovo Airport is the busiest airport in Moscow.
Domodedovo Airport explosion
In the middle of the afternoon at Domodedovo Airport’s international arrivals terminal, a large explosion went off. The president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, has called this explosion a terrorist attack. It is estimated that thousands of people were in the airport arrivals baggage area at the time of the explosion. Russian news agencies are reporting that 31 people were killed and more than 100 were injured, 20 critically so. Fifty-six ambulances were called into the airport, and the most critically injured were rushed to area hospitals.
Fears of additional attacks after Domodedovo Airport explosion
In 2004, 2006 and 2009, Chetcheyn rebels attacked various transportation targets within Russia. During every one of these attacks, coordinated explosions hit multiple targets or multiple areas within a target. Many are worried that the explosion at Domodedovo Airport is just the first of several possible attacks today. Medvedev has ordered beefed up security at all possible transportation targets within Russia. Domodedovo Airport is one of three major airports within Moscow and serves an average of 22 million individuals each year.
Response to the Domodedovo Airport attack
Within Russia, the Domodedovo Airport attack has prompted several changes. The Domodedovo Airport has been trying to improve security, but there has been a lot of criticism and questions about corruption within the security procedures. The 2004 attacks on two planes flying out of Domodedovo Airport started with airport employees illegally selling tickets to the suicide bombers. President Medvedev has postponed his departure for the World Economic Forum meetings in Switzerland. The Secretary-General of NATO has also said he is “deeply disturbed” by the terrorist attacks within Russia.
During every one of these attacks, coordinated explosions hit multiple targets or multiple areas within a target.