Moscow, January 24
A suspected suicide bomber triggered explosives at Moscow’s busiest international airport today killing at least 35 persons and leaving 130 injured, in the first major terror attack in less than a year.

“From the preliminary information we have, it was a terror attack,” President Dmitry Medvedev told officials in a televised briefing, shortly after cancelling his visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum meeting.

According to eyewitnesses quoted by Rossiya 24 news channel, two blasts were heard in the international arrivals sector of the Domodedovo international airport, 40 km south-east of city centre.

At least 35 persons were killed and over 100 injured in the attack at the airport.

RIA Novosti said there was at least one suicide bomber with explosives with 5 kg TNT equivalent. Investigation committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said the power of the blast was between 5-10 kg equivalent of TNT.

The bomb went off at 1902 IST in the baggage claim area of the international arrival sector, Itar-Tass quoted Tatyana Morozova of the Russian investigation committee as saying. Interfax did not rule out that the explosives were in a suitcase.

TV images showed people covered in blood running for safety amid chaos and thick smoke. The suicide bomber with metal pieces filled explosive vest was in the thick crowd of people receiving the arriving passengers, Russian media said.

Those at the airport said the terminal was packed to capacity at the time of explosion. Airport employees broke down the wall between the main airport and the arrival zone to allow passengers to escape from the scene of the destruction, it said. According to Business FM radio it was a suicide attack. — PTI