The Hindu : Fears of terrorism resurface in Moscow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 22, 2002

International

International

Fears of terrorism resurface in Moscow

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW AUG. 21. A powerful blast destroyed a five-storey apartment building in Moscow, killing at least eight persons and reviving fears of house bombings that killed nearly 300 people in 1999.

The explosion tore through a four-section building on Tuesday, causing one 40-flat section to collapse. Four survivors and eight bodies, including those of two small children, were pulled from the debris within hours of the blast. Rescue workers fear the toll may rise as over 10 persons are still listed missing. The blast left a gaping hole in the building, with broken concrete slabs dangling in the air.

The incident was eerily reminiscent of a series of apartment bombings in Moscow and other cities three years ago, which had been blamed on Chechen terrorists. This time investigators said a gas explosion was a likely cause of the incident, but they did not rule out that some explosives could have also been involved. Most Russian apartments use pipe-supplied natural gas for cooking, which often leaks and occasionally causes explosions of varying power.

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