Interpol to help probe Moscow bombing

Moscow/Paris, Jan 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Interpol is ready to help Russia investigate Monday’s terrorist attack at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport, the organisation’s secretary general Ronald K. Noble has said.

“Our bureau in Moscow and all relevant Russian law enforcement officials can count on Interpol’s full support to bring those responsible to justice,” Noble said Tuesday.

According to preliminary reports, a suicide bomber blew himself up Monday afternoon in the airport’s crowded international arrivals hall, killing at least 35 people and injuring up to 180.

“Interpol condemns this murderous attack in the strongest possible terms,” Noble added.

Since a number of foreigners were amongst the casualties of the attack, Interpol has also offered to deploy an Incident Response Team to Moscow to assist local police.

A spokesman for Russia’s national anti-terrorism committee (NAC) said Tuesday that insufficient security measures at the airport were to blame for the deadly blast.

The international community condemned the blast, with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen saying he was “deeply disturbed” by the attacks.

“I strongly condemn this outrageous act of terrorism against the Russian people,” US President Barrack Obama said in a statement.

British Prime Minister David Cameroon offered the Russian authorities “complete support” and “made clear that the people of Britain stood with the people of Russia in the face of these events,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.

In August 2004, two planes, which took off from Domodedovo airport were blown up by female Chechen suicide bombers, killing 90 people.

–IANS/RIA Novosti