Terror attack at Moscow's Domodedovo airport.

Terror bomb attack at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport kills 35.

Over 30 people have died in a bomb attack at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport on Monday. Security services had received no specific warnings about the attack.

The blast struck at 4:37 p.m. on Monday in the crowded international arrivals area of Domodedovo airport, where relatives and friends were waiting to welcome inbound travelers. According to the police the suicide bomber’s explosive device had a TNT equivalent of over five kilos and was stuffed with pieces of metal to cause maximum human casualties. The bomber was able to enter freely: people coming to the airport to meet and greet travelers do not have to pass through security.

Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case under the articles “terrorist act,” “illegal trafficking in explosives” and “murder,” a spokesperson said. By the time this paper went to print, the toll was 35 dead and over 150 injured, according to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee. As many as 53 people were hospitalized in Moscow and the surrounding area.

President Dmitry Medvedev held a meeting in the immediate aftermath of the attack. He instructed law enforcement agencies to investigate and to boost security on public transport, while Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told his staff to ensure the victims were given all necessary assistance. No personnel changes are planned as yet, said Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov: “So far, all efforts are focused on helping the victims.”

Presidents Barack Obama of the United States and Nicolas Sarkozy of France were among the many world leaders who spoke out to denounce the attack.

On New Year’s Eve and shortly afterwards, police at Domodedovo were on high alert - following weather-related disruption, but for several days prior to the blast things had returned to normal. There was no prior warning of any possible terror attack, according to an Interior Ministry spokesman and airport security staff.

Several dozen warnings are received each year about possible terrorist attacks in Moscow but not all of them are true. This time, no concrete information was available, the security man added.

After the explosion, transport police across Moscow were put on high alert. Two flights were rerouted from Domodedovo to Sheremetyevo, said airport spokesperson Anna Zakharenkova. Lufthansa cancelled two flights while Austrian Airlines and BA cancelled one each.

One can, of course, sue Domodedovo for its inadequate security, as welcoming parties are not inspected on entering the arrivals hall, but that would be senseless. Given the security situation across Moscow, there are a vast number of places vulnerable to attack, says Arkady Livshits, general director of Arli Spetstekhnika, a company that manufactures anti-terrorist equipment.

The security and especially the intelligence services can be blamed for failing to prevent the attack, said Gennady Gudkov, deputy head of the State Duma’s security committee. But no amount of efforts by anti-terrorist squads can ward off 100% of attacks, especially given the existing levels of corruption in government and the police terrorists will, unfortunately, keep finding opportunities to make their deadly impact.

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Top al-Qaida leader killed

Terrorism News Updates! A NATO airstrike killed a senior al--Qaida commander in eastern Afghanistan, officials said, as Pakistan investigated reports that a separate CIA drone-launched missile killed the insurgents’ No. 3 commander.

Wednesday’s attacks could be a serious blow to the terrorist network’s capabilities in the region, and come as the United States has escalated strikes by unmanned drones in Pakistan’s volatile border region in an effort to disrupt suspected terror plots in Europe, a Western counter-terrorism official said in Washington.

It wasn’t known whether the drone attacks were related specifically to a terror plot against Britain, France and Germany that European authorities said they intercepted. The Eiffel Tower was briefly evacuated Tuesday evening after officials received a telephoned bomb threat.

NATO said the airstrike in eastern Afghanistan killed several militants, including Abdallah Umar al—Qurayshi, a senior al—Qaida commander of Saudi origin who coordinated attacks by Arab fighters in Kunar and Nuristan provinces near the Pakistani border. NATO said an air weapons team went in after the strike and confirmed that the targeted structure was destroyed.

Pakistani security officials, meanwhile, said they were investigating reports that a missile strike from a CIA drone killed Sheikh Fateh al—Masri as he travelled in a tribal region near the border. Al—Masri is believed to have replaced Mustafa al—Yazid, who was killed in a missile strike in May, as the group’s No. 3 commander.

The United States reportedly launched 21 drone attacks into north-western Pakistan this month, more than double the number in any previous month.

The Western counter-terrorism official said some of the strikes were aimed at disrupting suspected terrorist plots aimed at Europe. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the details of the terror plot remain sensitive.

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Kashmir caught in vicious cycle of violence: Chidambaram

Inaugurating a conference of chiefs of police forces of the country, Mr. Chidambaram also expressed concern over the situation in Kashmir Valley and hoped that in the next few days, a “starting point” would be found to reach out to the protestors and restart the process of a dialogue.

Mr. Chidambaram said at the beginning of 2005 and with the exception of 2008, the law and order situation in J&K has been extremely benign with few incidents and fewer casualties.

But since June this year, there has been an unexpected turn of events, he said.

“I am afraid J&K is now caught in a vicious cycle of stone pelting, lathicharge, teargassing and firing, leading to casualties and resulting in more stone pelting,” he said.

The Home Minister said the security forces have been instructed to act with great restraint and the situation has not yet returned to normal.

Chidambaram said the Central government has acknowledged that a political solution must be found to the problems of J&K and the Central government has offered a dialogue with all sections of the people and political parties and groups of the state.

“We are concerned that we have not been able to stop the vicious cycle in which the state is caught. However, it is my hope that, in the next few days, we would be able to find that elusive ‘starting point’ from where we could reach out to the protestors, reassure them of their rights and dignity, restore peace and order, redeem the promises made, and re—start the process of a dialogue that will lead to a solution,” he said.

Mr. Chidambaram said through 2009 and in the first eight months of 2010, the security situation was severely challenged by forces inimical both within and outside the country.

“Contrary to perceptions in a section of the media - and consequently, among sections of the people - the Indian state has been able to stand up to these challenges and face them with confidence and courage,” he said.

The Home Minister said save for one incident, the last 21 months have been remarkably free of any terrorist attack and the attack on the German bakery in Pune was indeed a blot and hoped that the suspects will be apprehended soon.