International

Suicide Bombers in Moscow Kill 38

Molly Burns

On the morning of Monday March 29th, 2010 during rush hour, suicide bombers wearing belts packed with explosives set off two large explosions 40 minutes apart in two spereate subway stations in central Moscow. The explosions killed more 38 people and injured over 100. According to Moscow’s Mayor Yuri M. Luzhkov, the suicide bombers were two female terrorists who had planned the attacks for the time of day when the most people would be using the subway, which serves as many as 10 million commuters a day. The first blast occurred at a station near the F.S.B., and Moscow officials have said they believe the intention of this attack was to send a threatening message to Security Services that work there. The second attack occurred at the Park Kultury station and did less damage than the first, killing 12. Although Russian authorities have claimed that Muslim extremists are responsible for this attack, no specific group has come forth to claim responsibility as of yet. President Obama called Russia’s president Dmitry Medvedev on Monday to assure him that he would help Russia to bring those responsible for the attacks to justice. The same group being blamed for these attacks has also been linked to other terrorist activity, including a bomb that killed 26 people in Moscow last November.

• Yuri M. Luzhkov: Russian politician who has served as the Mayor of Russia since 1992 and is one of the founders of the United Russia party.
• F.S.B: The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. The main domestic security agency of the Russian federation and the successor to the soviet era K.G.B.

• Argument for: Aiding Russia in any retaliation would send the message to terrorists that the US remains serious about the war on terrorism.
• Argument against: Pouring money and resources toward a fight that may not directly affect the US could be unpopular.

Additional Reading:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/world/europe/30moscow.html?pagewanted=2&hp

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8593961.stm