20 Dead in Bomb Attacks in Moscow
- Author: News Agencies
- Publish date:21/07/2003
- Section:WORLD HEADLINES
20 people died and dozens were seriously injured when two female bombers blew themselves up at a Moscow rock concert, with suspicions immediately falling on separatists from Chechnya.
The two women blew themselves up at a ticket booth at the entrance to the outdoor concert at Tushino airfield in northwestern Moscow after police prevented them from entering the site, Russian police said.
Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov blamed the blasts on Chechen separatists fighting to sever their mainly Muslim republic from the rest of Russia.
"Today the president signed a decree on elections in Chechnya, and one can think that these attacks are linked to this event," Russian Interior Minister told journalists at the scene.
ITAR-TASS news agency earlier quoted doctors and police as saying that the death toll had risen to 20, while Interfax quoted police as saying the death toll stood at 17.
More than 22 people were hospitalized, most with shrapnel wounds from the bombs. Gryzlov said one woman alone carried an explosive belt.
**PHOTO CAPTION***
A body lays on the ground in this image made from television, following explosions at rock festival in Suburban Moscow, Saturday, July 5, 2003. (AP Photo/RTR via APTN)