Suicide Bombings at Moscow Music Festival

[Jim Casey]

MOSCOW, July 5 — Explosions went off at a rock festival on Moscow’s outskirts Saturday, killing at least 15 people, injuring many others news reports said. A woman suicide bomber apparently set off one of the blasts, the reports said.

THE INTERFAX and ITAR-Tass news agencies both cited law-enforcement sources as saying the first blast took place after guards stopped a woman at the entrance to the festival and she detonated an explosives-packed belt.

Interfax reported a total of three blasts.

Moscow police and the emergency situations ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. The Federal Security Service referred queries to the Moscow police.

The festival, called “Krylya” (Wings), is a highly popular summer event for Moscow’s youth. It is held at the Tushino airfield in Moscow’s northern outskirts.

There were conflicting reports on where the second blast took place, either at the festival entrance or at a nearby outdoor market. About 20 minutes after the first two explosions were reported, Interfax said there was third blast in the area.

Fears of terrorism have been high in the Russian capital since last October’s seizure of a Moscow theater by scores of assailants demanding that Russian forces pull out of Chechnya.

The assailants included women who were strapped with explosives and detonators. Russian special forces ended that seizure by pumping narcotic gas into the theater and then storming in. At least 129 of the approximately 800 hostages died, almost all from the effects of the gas.
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Does anyone worry that this could happen at a concert here in the US?

[ July 05, 2003, 08:29 AM: Message edited by: Jim Casey ]

[John Allo]

It could, Jim, but I think that post-9/11 we are a much more aware society.

Just look at that guy who tried to light his shoe in mid-flight. Just about every passenger onboard jumped the guy preventing him from lighting up.

[John Daniels]

"The assailants included women who were strapped with explosives and detonators."

My woman usually like to strap themselves with no more that four D-cell batteries and a tube of KY Jelly! phoney

All kidding aside . . . if we worry about everyday life . . . then we will have no life!

It could happen anyday . . . anywhere . . . anytime!

If it is our time, then . . . shrug

[DJMC]

those crazy Commies!!!