''Black widow'' suspected in Russian airport attack

Vinay Shukla

Moscow, Jan 25 (PTI) A ''black widow'' linked to Russia''srestive Northern Caucasus region could be behind the deadlysuicide attack at Moscow''s international airport and policewere on the look out for four men who sneaked in withexplosives.

A day after the explosion killed 35 people, including twoBritons, a German and a Bulgarian, and injured 178 others atthe Domodedovo International Airport, Russian President DmitryMedvedev today slammed the airport management for securityfailures.

"The management of Domodedovo Airport should be heldresponsible. After previous similar events, we had adoptedappropriate legislations. Obviously there have been lapses. Wewill have to look into this," Medvedev told state-run Rossiya24 TV channel.

The Russian President has put off his departure for Davosto attend the World Economic Forum, where he was to be themain speaker at the opening session tomorrow. The Kremlin saidMedvedev still planned to go.

Meanwhile, Interfax news agency reported that one of theeyewitnesses questioned by investigators said he had seen howthe hand baggage of a woman dressed in black exploded at theairport yesterday.

"The eyewitness declared that the young woman was dressedin black and the explosives were in the bag or suitcase on thefloor next to her," an unnamed source was quoted as saying bythe agency.

It said the security agencies, who were aware of thepossible terror attacks, were looking for ''black widows'' ofthe slain militants from the Caucasus, who had carried outall suicide attacks in past, including twin blasts inMoscow metro stations in March 2010 that left 39 people dead.

According to Rossiya channel, police were also looking forfour men suspected of involvement in yesterday''s blast in theinternational arrival lounge of the airport. "They werespotted on the CCTV footage," the TV said.

The absence of security check at the internationalarrivals gate was used by the alleged terrorists to sneak inwith explosives, it reported.

Some eyewitnesses told Russian TV channels that before abomber detonated the explosive equivalent to 7kg of TNT, hehad shouted: "I''ll kill you all!"

Among those injured, 48 were in serious condition, DeputyHealth Minister Maxim Topilin said. The bodies of five victimshad already been identified. (More) PTI VS KIM VMN