Moscow airport bomb: Dmitry Medvedev seeks shake-up

Russia needs Israeli-style airport security in the wake of a suspected suicide bombing in Moscow, the country's president has said.

Dmitry Medvedev spoke out the day after a bomber detonated an estimated 7kg (15lb) of TNT at Domodedovo airport, killing 35 people and injuring 110.

He blamed airport officials for "clear security breaches", and called for sackings if negligence was proved.

Militant groups from the North Caucasus are suspected of planning the attack.

Speaking to security officers in televised remarks, Mr Medvedev said terrorism was the most serious threat facing Russia today.

He called for those responsible to be hunted down and their organisations "eliminated".

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also took a hard line, saying that "retribution is inevitable".

"This was an abominable crime in both its senselessness and its cruelty," he said, offering government help to the families of those affected.

Airport defiant

In a hard-hitting verdict on the events at Domodedovo on Monday, Mr Medvedev said "pure anarchy reigned" at the airport.

"People were allowed to walk in from anywhere. The entrance restrictions were partial at best."

He said an investigation by the prosecutor general would establish whether transport officials were guilty of criminal negligence.

In the meantime, he ordered the interior ministry to propose dismissals or reassignment of transport officials, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Describing the terror threat in Russia as being higher than that in the US, Mr Medvedev said a system of "comprehensive checks" based on Israeli and US security procedures should be introduced at all transport hubs.

Airport authorities firmly denied any culpability.

"We fully met all the requirements in the sphere of air transport security for which we are responsible," spokeswoman Yelena Galanova said.

"We are an airport, we deal with air transport and are responsible for air transport security. All the existing requirements were fulfilled and we acted in accordance with the current legislation."

Mr Medvedev's remarks came as reports began to circulate suggesting some prior warning may have been given.

According to RIA Novosti, Russian authorities were warned a week ago that an "act of terror" would be carried out near one of Moscow's airports. Police were now seeking three suspects, it added.

Caucasus concern

Monday's explosion hit the airport's busy international arrivals hall in a public area where friends and drivers meet passengers who have passed through customs.

Eyewitnesses told Russian TV that before a bomber detonated the charge, he had shouted: "I'll kill you all!"

Scenes of panic ensued as the area filled with smoke, with bodies strewn across the floor.

Eight foreigners were reported killed, with one Briton among the dead as well as a German.

Almost 50 of those injured are now in a serious condition in hospital.

Militants from the North Caucasus are frequently blamed for terror attacks in Russia, including a double suicide bombing in March 2010 that killed 40 people on Moscow's underground system. That attack was blamed on female suicide bombers from Dagestan.

Like Vladimir Putin before him, Mr Medvedev appears unable to find a solution that would bring stability to that region and peace to Russia, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow.