Chechen rebels suspects at moscow rockfest explosi

[DracoPaladore 0]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030705/ap_on_re_eu/russia_rock_festival_blast&cid=518&ncid=716

Summary: An explosion Saturday at a giant rock festival shook Moscow when two female female suicide bombers detonated when stopped at the gates of the festival. Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov says that 16 were killed, not including the two suicide bomers. The second bomber detonated 20 minutes after the initial blast.

Quote[/b] ] The attack came hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order setting presidential election in Chechnya for Oct. 5. The elections are the latest step in Putin's strategy of trying to bring a political resolution in the Caucasus republic even as fighting continues.

[NurEinMensch 0]

That's terrible news!

[cam0flage 0]

Apparently there was a third bomb which was detonated in a market nearby, according to FSB.

[zverushka 0]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3047386.stm

Quote[/b] ]

Many killed in Moscow festival blasts

One of the bombers is believed to have died

At least 16 people have been killed as two women suicide attackers detonated their bombs at a rock festival outside Moscow.

Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov blamed the attacks on Chechen separatists, saying a Chechen passport had been found on one of the bombers.

But a Chechen spokesman, Salambek Maigov, told a Russian radio station that the leadership of his homeland was not involved.

The festival at the Tushino airfield in north-western Moscow was packed, with a crowd reported at 40,000 people, when the bombs went off.

The first blast happened as queues formed at the entrance at 1439 local time (10:52 GMT) on Saturday.

A woman detonated an explosives belt when police tried to stop her entering.

Police say she was killed outright along with one other person. Many others were injured.

Fifteen minutes later there was a second, more powerful explosion as another female bomber blew herself up.

There were also reports of a third blast at a nearby marketplace but it is unclear whether this was a bomber or remotely operated.

"At first I thought it was a giant firecracker, then I realised it was an explosion," eyewitness Vadim Trushkin told the Associated Press news agency.

Another said that after the first blast police told spectators to leave by the other gate - where the second bomb went off.

Rescue teams were flown in by helicopter.

The airfield was hosting the "Krylya" (Wings) festival - a popular summer event for young music fans in Moscow.

The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow said no one had yet claimed responsibility for this attack but connection with Chechnya would be high on people's minds.

There have been heightened fears of attacks by Chechen militants since the hostage siege at a Moscow theatre last year.

That resulted in the death of 129 hostages and 41 guerrillas, who had included women armed with explosive belts, after Russian special forces used noxious gas to disable the hostage-takers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been informed of the incident.

On Friday, Mr Putin ordered a local presidential election to be held in Chechnya on 5 October.

"I presume that this inhumane situation, this terrorist act, is linked with the staging of this event," Mr Gryzlov said.

However, the BBC's Russian affairs analyst Stephen Dalziel says there is unlikely to be a direct link, given that an attack of this nature would need considerable planning.

Why are they still calling them seperatists? They are terrorists. Its like calling the al-qaeda "freedom fighters"

[DracoPaladore 0]

Probobly because of their goals. Terrorism is just terrorizing, what the Al Queda are known for. However, the Seperatists are trying to make a statement about their connection Russia. I'm not very well informed on the Chechen war, but thats all I can thin of.

[sanctuary 19]

It seems that all that sick people need to find a justification in the a fact they kill on purpose and not accidentaly innocent people.

They are not alone to do such atrocity in the world of course , but they have no excuse for such a behaviour, and will never have.

Killing innocent people on purpose is the best way to confirm that you are just -wrong-

Only people that have the right to call themselves "resistant" , are the one who take example on resistance in europe in WW2 , the attacks were never versus innocent people, only nazi forces or occupation military forces

[zverushka 0]

Putin is trying to calm down the chechen conflict. Russia is tired of fighting in chechnya.

Its just like in israel. The islamic terrorist groups WANT to keep on fighting. What else are they going to do? What are they going to do in chechnya? Farm? There's no farmable land.

Hamas is considered a terrorist group. Why isn't shamil basayev?

[NurEinMensch 0]

Probobly because of their goals. Terrorism is just terrorizing, what the Al Queda are known for. However, the Seperatists are trying to make a statement about their connection Russia. I'm not very well informed on the Chechen war, but thats all I can thin of.

Do you think Al Queda destoyed the WTC just for fun? Do you think they are using means of terror because they think terrorizing is cool?

Al Queda has goals, like those chechen terrorists have goals. They both bomb stuff and kill innocent people to achieve those.

I can't see any difference in that.

[DracoPaladore 0]

Probobly because of their goals. Terrorism is just terrorizing, what the Al Queda are known for. However, the Seperatists are trying to make a statement about their connection Russia. I'm not very well informed on the Chechen war, but thats all I can thin of.

Do you think Al Queda destoyed the WTC just for fun? Do you think they are using means of terror because they think terrorizing is cool?  

Al Queda has goals, like those chechen terrorists have goals. They both bomb stuff and kill innocent people to achieve those.

I can't see any difference in that.

I didn't write that statement well. What I meant is that the goals of the Cechen seperatists and the goals of Al Queda are much different. Seperatists because they are aiming for seperation from Russia.

Al Queda's goals, however, seems to be bent on the jihad against the United States. These two situations are different, as well as their ideals and what they are trying to do. They are being called Seperatists for the obvious reason of seperating. They are fighting for the seperation. The Al Queda are terrorists, however. Their goals, somewhat unknown, seems to be into the path of just destruction and to fufill that jihad. Their main goal is to terrorize the people of the United States as well as kill them.

[NurEinMensch 0]

Al Queda's goals aren't the destruction of the U.S. what they want is the "west", mainly America, to get out of the middle east and keep their nose out of muslim business.

That's not so different from the chechens wanting the russians out of chechnia(sp???).

[DracoPaladore 0]

Al Queda's goals aren't the destruction of the U.S. what they want is the "west", mainly America, to get out of the middle east and keep their nose out of muslim business.

That's not so different from the chechens wanting the russians out of chechnia(sp???).

Somewhat, but what I think the Seperatists are fighting mainly for independance. It's somewhat like the situation when America became independent. Both fought/are fighting for their independance from a former ruler. This case, Checnya(blah, sp?) is fighting to get away from Russia.

I guess your pretty much right.

Bah, this is were it gets confoosing. I think theres a drawn line between both though.

[NurEinMensch 0]

The issue is confusing! I wish I knew more about it.

[FSPilot 0]

If you want a seperate state, try diplomacy, then form an army and start a rebellion. Don't kill people who have nothing to do with it.

[ralphwiggum 6]

just to chime in, but people. please don't get too passionate and heated about this debate, and end up breaking forum rules.

just a little word of caution from your friendly mod.

[Tex -USMC- 0]

Well this definitely won't help.

[killagee 0]

This is a frightning development for me. I make my living from mixing Concerts. With the western popluation so easily induced into paranoia ( ie: SARS, 9-11, Bali etc...) the last thing I need is for people to be too scared to go to concerts...

One mass killing at an american or european concert and its all over...

The Bombs were exploded out side the venue in moscow. Imagine the devastaion if the two girls had worked there way up to the front... You wont find a higher concentration of Humanity that about 6 meters from the front of the stage.

Personally, the chenchens have lost any of my sympathy recently, in the same way the US lost my respect.

After the seize fire in 99 the chechen fighters moved into dagestan and continued to wage war there. I think some of these people can only keep there power base through conflict.

This does not mean I forgive the russians for leveling Grozny in the most intense Artillary Barrage in history ( 30,000 rounds fired in 24hours into an area 5km by 8km in the grozny CBD).

People always give there support to the victims (ie chechens, US after 9-11, rwandans etc), but once these victims turn back into criminals, they are seen as no better than their persecuters...