Witnesses recall mayhem after blast at Moscow airport
Russian authorities rush inside Moscow's Domodedovo Airport shortly after Monday's explosion.
January 24th, 2011
02:10 PM ET

Witnesses recall mayhem after blast at Moscow airport

The scene at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport became so chaotic that airport staff had to break through a wall to let frightened passengers leave, a witness said.

Tatyana Popova, speaking from the departures area, said she was waiting at passport control when she heard the blast. Monday's explosion - which Russian authorities have attributed to a suicide bomber - caused smoke to course through the baggage claims area, she said.

“There were a lot of people crowded there because the escalators stopped,” Popova told the Russian station RT. “The staff organized (an) emergency exit, but the door was very narrow and people crowded there immediately. So, the staff started breaking the wall to let the people out."

Footage released on YouTube by Russian state TV showed several police in a smoke-filled section of the airport. There were several bodies and pieces of luggage lying on the floor, and video from another part of the airport showed paramedics rushing by with people on stretchers.

Russian state TV said the handmade bomb was filled with metal objects to increase shrapnel from the explosion.

Elena Bakhtina, who owns a café in the airport and who has a colleague in intensive care after the blast, told RT that the explosion must have been a strong one.

“Our café is about 100 meters from the arrivals area, and when we heard the blast, plaster started falling from the ceiling," she said.

Russian authorities said the death toll is 35. Another 35 people are in critical condition, and dozens more sustained less serious wounds.

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Filed under: Air travel • Crime • Russia • Terrorism
soundoff (74 Responses)
  1. gaily

    What a disgrace...majority of the remarks are so self centered and vapid

    January 25, 2011 at 1:55 am | Report abuse |
  2. yolanda

    WHAT ABOUT OUR CHILDREN ? IT's SAD THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. ITS SO SCARY OUT THERE . I PRAY TO GOD EVERYNIGHT FOR PEACE ON EARTH. I AM 31 AND I PRAY THAT GOD FORGIVE US ALL AND THAT WE ALL GET TO GO TO HEAVEN . GOD BLESS EVERYONE.

    January 25, 2011 at 3:16 am | Report abuse |
  3. Pitchfork&hoof

    too late your children baking me cookies

    January 25, 2011 at 3:22 am | Report abuse |
  4. Cesar

    To the person who said Bush is Muslim. You wasted my time. Don't say that again! Ever!

    January 25, 2011 at 7:48 am | Report abuse |
  5. beezo

    Hmmmm TSA and their security checks are not looking so bad over here now huh????? Hmmmm???huh??

    January 25, 2011 at 9:44 am | Report abuse |
  6. beezo

    Maybe russia will have the nads to blow osama obama the f up since america doesnt have the nads to do it

    January 25, 2011 at 9:56 am | Report abuse |
  7. beezo

    I think he meant bush is a terrorist or muslim same thing tho kinda like crack is cocaine

    January 25, 2011 at 10:15 am | Report abuse |
  8. beezo

    Damn cesar kinda bossy huh???

    January 25, 2011 at 10:39 am | Report abuse |
  9. Cesar

    .beezo, you know how when you drive somewhere and as you take a breathe or two, you realize that you just unintentionally snuff sewage waste odor or skunk odor? But it is too late to undo it? Well, that's what happened to me when I read that comment. Thank you.

    January 25, 2011 at 11:39 am | Report abuse |
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