Moscow Subway Explosions March 29: Is Chechnya To Blame?

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Moscow Subway Explosions: Who Is To Blame?

Moscow subway explosions have rocked Russia's capital early morning on Monday, March 29. It is believed at least 38 people have been killed, while 65 others were injured. The first blast happened at the Lubyanka Metro Station at 7:56 am Moscow time. The second Moscow Metro explosion happened 45 minutes later at the Park Kultury station.

    •    Explosions in Moscow Metro Stations, Dozens Killed

Although Chechen fighters were immediately suspected, there is some confusion online as to who is to blame for the bombings.

It is being reported that Russian officials are in fact blaming rebels from the Caucasus region. However, the Russian version of the website of the Federal Security Service (FSB) has no mention of the attacks. Kremlin.ru has a brief mention of the bombings and the emergency meeting that the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev held in the wake of the attacks. There is no mention of Chechnya or the Caucasus region in the press release, however.

CNN reports that fighters from Chechnya as the culprits behind Moscow bombings. The agency sites Alexander Bortnikov, the director of Russia's Federal Security Sevice, saying, "Our preliminary assessment is that this act of terror was committed by a terrorist group from the North Caucasus region." CNN also reports that a web site associated with Chechen separatists claims responsibility for attacks without naming the web site.

However, other news agencies, including Al Jazeera, Voice of America and Wall Street Journal, say that no one claimed responsibility for the blasts yet.