MOSCOW — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vowed revenge Tuesday for the suicide bombing that killed 35 people at a Moscow airport — a familiar tough-on-terrorism stance that has underpinned his power but which some blame for a rising number of deadly attacks in Russia.
Putin was stern in addressing the Cabinet, vowing that “this crime will be solved and revenge is inevitable.” He did not elaborate on what new actions he could take.
Lax security was blamed for Monday’s explosion in the international arrivals area of Domodedovo Airport, with President Dmitry Medvedev criticizing police and managers at the airport, the largest of three that serve the capital.
NTV television showed a photograph of what it said was the detached head of the suspected bomber. Investigators have said that DNA testing will be necessary before the man, who appears to be in his 30s, can be identified.
A 2-second video of the blast, broadcast on state television and said to be from a closed-circuit TV camera, showed a burst of flames and passengers falling and fleeing as smoke filled the hall. The blast injured 180 people.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion has fallen on Islamist separatists from Chechnya or elsewhere in the restive Caucasus region who have been battling Russian authority for more than 15 years.
A crackdown on the insurgency has produced a backlash that has led to almost daily attacks on police and security forces in the Caucasus and brought the terror to Moscow.
Medvedev gave a tough speech Tuesday to officials at the Federal Security Service. “The nest of these bandits, however they are called, should be eliminated,” he said.
Medvedev demanded robust checks of passengers and baggage at all major transportation hubs. “This will make it longer for passengers,” he said, “but it’s the only way.”
“What happened shows that obviously there were violations in guaranteeing security,” he said. “And it should be answered for by those who make decisions there and by the management of the airport.”
