Russia: Interior Minister Blames Chechen Separatists For Deadly Bombing
Moscow, 5 July 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Russian Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov blamed Chechen separatists for bombings at a rock concert outside Moscow today that killed at least 16 people and injured dozens of others.
Gryzlov said preliminary information showed that two women suicide bombers detonated explosives near the entrance to the annual "Krylya" rock concert held at the Tushino airfield northwest of Moscow.
A third explosion at a nearby market has been reported by Russia's Interfax news agency but there has been no independent confirmation of that.
Gryzlov said a passport belonging to one of the female suicide bombers was found at the scene, showing she was a citizen of Chechnya.
No one has claimed responsibility for the bombings yet.
Some 40,000 people were attending the concert, which, according to ITAR-TASS, continued several hours after the explosions. Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations has sent dozens of ambulances and several helicopters to the scene to transport the injured to hospitals.
Copyright (c) 2003. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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