October 2013 Volgograd bus bombing
The October 2013 Volgograd bus bombing was a suicide bombing which occurred on 21 October 2013 on a bus in the city of Volgograd, in the Volgograd Oblast of Southern Russia. The attack was perpetrated by a female suicide bomber named Naida Sirazhudinovna Asiyalova (Russian: Наида Сиражудиновна Асиялова), who detonated an explosive belt containing 500–600 grams of TNT inside a bus carrying approximately 50 people—predominantly students. The suicide bombing killed seven civilians and injured at least 36 others.[3][4][5][6][7]
October 2013 Volgograd bus bombing | |
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Part of Insurgency in the North Caucasus | |
![]() The bus targeted by Asiyalova after the bombing | |
![]() Location of Volgograd Oblast in Russia | |
Location | Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast, Southern Federal District, Russia |
Date | 21 October 2013 14.05 Moscow Time [10:05 GMT] |
Target | Civilians |
Attack type | Suicide attack |
Weapons | Explosive belt |
Deaths | 8 (including the perpetrator) |
Injured | 36[1] |
Perpetrators | Dmitry Sokolov Naida Asiyalova[2] |
Perpetrators
The bombing was committed by Naida Asiyalova, a 30-year-old fugitive from the Republic of Dagestan. Asiyalova was the wife of Dmitry Sokolov, a 21-year-old Russian explosives expert and convert to Islam[8] who originally hailed from Krasnoyarsk, although shortly before he had converted to Islam, his family had relocated to Moscow. Following his conversion to Islam, Sokolov adopted the name Abdul Jabbar. Asiyalova was originally from Makhachkala, the capital city of Dagestan in the North Caucasus.
It is believed that in the year prior to their deaths, Asiyalova converted Sokolov to a more radical form of Islam, and persuaded him to join Dagestan militants. He was reported missing by his family in July 2012 after he failed to return home from Arabic language courses that he attended at a Moscow mosque. Prior to the Volgograd bus bombing, he had been linked to two non-fatal explosions which had injured 29 people.[9]
Attack
The suicide belt worn by Asiyalova was constructed by Sokolov, and it is believed the attack upon the bus in Volgograd was originally expected to take place in Moscow, as she had a ticket to travel to the capital on her possession at the time of the explosion.[10] The fact Russian security agencies had been actively monitoring her for suspected terror links may have led to her choosing to detonate her suicide belt upon the bus instead. The explosive device was detonated by Asiyalova less than one minute after she had boarded the bus.[11]
In response, authorities from the Volgograd Oblast declared three days of mourning. Members of the public donated blood for the victims of the blast.[12]
On 22 October, the People's Republic of China condemned the bombing.[13]
Death of Dmitry Sokolov
On 16 November 2013, Russian security forces killed five insurgents, including Dmitry Sokolov, in a village close to Makhachkala. Prior to his death at the hands of Russian security services, Sokolov admitted to constructing the suicide belt and organizing the bombing, and was subsequently killed in a gunfight after refusing to surrender to the security services.[14][15][16]
Victims
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References
- "The attack in Volgograd injured 37 people". Itar-Tass. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
- "Volgograd Bus Bomb Victims Laid to Rest as Police Hunt Bomber's Husband".
- "At least 5 people die in bus explosion". Russia Today. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- "A bus explosion killed 4 people in Russia". BBC News. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- "Russia bus explosion killed 4 people". Reuters. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- Five dead, 27 injured in bus explosion in Volgograd region
- "Up to 6 Killed in Bus Bomb Blast in S.Russia – Officials". Ria Novosti. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- "Husband of Volgograd Bus Bomber Hunted by Russian Security Forces". The Guardian. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- "Militant's Wife Behind Volgograd Suicide Blast". Russia Today. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- "Volgograd suicide blast was planned for Moscow - Investigative Committee source — RT News". Rt.com. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
- "Husband of Volgograd Bus Bomber Hunted by Russian Security Forces". The Guardian. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- "Volgograd mourns victims of bus bombing, police look for organizers — RT News". Rt.com. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
- "China condemned Volgograd bus bombing". Xinhua News Agency. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- "Russian security forces kill self-confessed militant organizer of Volgograd suicide bombing — RT News". Rt.com. 2013-11-16. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
- "Militant Behind Volgograd Suicide Bombing Killed in Russia's Dagestan | Crime | RIA Novosti". En.ria.ru. 2013-11-17. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
- "Russian police kill suspected Volgograd bus bomber in shootout". Reuters. 2013-11-16. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
- Rfe/Rl (2013-10-22). "Radio Free Europe". Rferl.org. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2013 Volgograd bus bombing. |
- Contemporary BBC news article detailing the 2013 Volgograd bus bombing
- Video of the bus bombing on YouTube