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Two
suicide bombings in as many days have killed 31 people and raised
concerns that Islamic militants have begun a terrorist campaign in
Russia that could stretch into the Sochi Olympics in February.
Russia bombings raise concern on Olympics
Published: 10:41AM Tuesday December 31, 2013 Source: AP-
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Russian and international Olympic officials insisted the site of the games, protected by layers of security, is completely safe.
The attacks in Volgograd, about 650 kilometres from Sochi, reflected the Kremlin's inability to uproot Islamist insurgents in the Caucasus who have vowed to derail the games, the pet project of President Vladimir Putin.
No one has claimed responsibility for yesterday's blast at the Volgograd railway station or today's bus explosion in the city, but they came only months after Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov threatened new attacks on civilian targets in Russia, including the Olympics.
In addition to the dead, the bombings wounded 104 people, according to Russia's Health Ministry.
As of today, 58 remained hospitalized, many in grave condition.
Matthew Clements, an analyst at Jane's, said Caucasus militants could be targeting major transportation hubs like Volgograd to embarrass the Kremlin and discourage attendance at the February Olympics.
"The attack demonstrates the militants' capability to strike at soft targets such as transport infrastructure outside of their usual area of operations in the North Caucasus," he said in a note.
"Although the very strict security measures which will be in place at the Sochi Games will make it difficult to undertake a successful attack against the main Olympic venues, public transport infrastructure in Sochi and the surrounding Krasnodar territory will face an elevated risk of attack."
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In yesterday's attack, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive in front of the train station's metal detectors, killing 17 people, including the attacker.
Umarov, who had claimed responsibility for bombings in 2010 and 2011, ordered a halt to attacks on civilian targets during the mass demonstrations against Putin in the winter of 2011-12.
He reversed that order in July, urging his men to "do their utmost to derail" the Sochi Olympics, which he described as "satanic dances on the bones of our ancestors."
Aware of the threat, the Sochi organizers have introduced some of the most extensive identity checks and sweeping security measures ever seen at an international sports event.
The security zone created around Sochi stretches approximately 100 kilometres along the Black Sea coast and up to 40 kilometres inland.
Russian forces including special troops will patrol the forested mountains flanking the resort and use drones to keep a constant watch over Olympic facilities. Speedboats will patrol the coast and sophisticated sonar will be used to detect submarines.
Cars from outside the Olympic zone will be banned beginning a month before the Winter Games, and Sochi residents are already facing widespread identity checks.
The White House said the US would welcome "closer cooperation" with Russia on security preparations for the safety of athletes, spectators and other participants at the Olympics following the two attacks.
"The US government has offered our full support to the Russian government in security preparations for the Sochi Olympic Games," White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said.
Russian Olympic Committee chief Alexander Zhukov insisted that there was no need to take any extra steps to secure Sochi in the wake of the Volgograd bombings because "everything necessary already has been done."
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach offered his condolences today in a letter to Putin and expressed full confidence that Russia would deliver "safe and secure games in Sochi."
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