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Another bombing on Moscow bus
Many injuries; no claim of responsibility; security tightened
July 12, 1996
Web posted at: 9:45 a.m. EDT (1445 GMT)MOSCOW (CNN) -- A bomb ripped through a Moscow bus during morning rush hour Friday, the second such attack in two days. Twenty-seven people were injured, eight of them seriously, police said. Authorities withdrew an earlier report that one person had been killed, saying that the victim in question was in a serious condition.
The latest attack was the third on Moscow's public transportation system since a blast in the subway killed four people on June 11, five days before the first round of voting in Russia's presidential election. No one has claimed responsibility for any of the bombs.
Friday's bomb went off at 8:20 a.m. -- about three miles from the Kremlin -- as the bus headed for central Moscow. Police said it was stronger than the one that exploded on a bus in central Moscow on Thursday morning. Both were hidden in cloth bags.
Authorities appealed to the public to provide any information that might help in the investigation.
Panic
The bus targeted in Friday's blast was demolished, blood and broken glass littering the street and sidewalk. "There was a cloud of black smoke, pieces of metal flying out all over," said a passenger named Vladimir who held his injured arm as he talked to a reporter. "Of course, I'm scared, I just walked away and I'm shaking all over," said a woman who witnessed the blast. Adding to her fear is the fact that she and family members frequently ride on buses that take the same route as the one bombed.
"I saw people being pulled out of the trolleybus. One woman had her arm blown off," said Lyudmila Ivanova, who heard the blast from her apartment and ran out onto her balcony.
Another witness, who identified herself only as Yelena, said there was panic after the explosion. "Passengers began breaking windows to get out, people were shouting and hitting on the doors. The doors opened, then closed again for some reason," she said.
Bigger bomb
Police said Friday's bomb was stronger than the one that exploded on a bus in central Moscow on Thursday morning.
President Boris Yeltsin and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov blamed terrorists and promised tough measures. Luzhkov told a news conference he believes criminals angered by a new anti-crime decree or Chechen separatists from southern Russia might be behind the blast.
Luzhkov said he received an anonymous call after Thursday's bus bombing from a man with a heavy southern Russia accent. The caller said: "If the bus bomb isn't enough for you, wait for another one at the subway circle line." Friday's bomb detonated moments after the bus pulled away from a subway station.
Luzhkov said it contained the equivalent of about 11 or 12 ounces of explosives, compared with 7 ounces in Thursday's bomb.
Added security
Police closed all main roads in and out of the city and blanketed its subway system and bus stations. After a suspicious package was spotted, police rolled up a remote- operated robot device to carry out a controlled explosion. Later, police said the package contained garbage.
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There were no fatalities in the explosion Thursday, in part because the bomb, which was in a bag of vegetables, went off in the driver's cab, which is separated from the rest of the bus, police said. The bus driver -- who opened the bag after a passenger handed to him -- was badly burned and four passengers were injured.
The Russian capital has one of the world's largest transit systems, used by millions of people every day. In addition to the subway, the system includes buses, trams and trolleybuses, which are attached by wires to electric lines.
Bureau Chief Eileen O'Connor and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Bomb explodes on Moscow bus, 5 injured- July 11, 1996
- Yeltsin blames political extremists for subway blast- June 12, 1996
- Special section -- Pivotal Elections: Russia
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