Explosion in the Main Square of a Russian City - 2002-05-09

An explosion in the main square of a Russian city has resulted in at least 34 deaths and around 150 injuries. Twelve of the deceased are children. The explosion occurred in the city of Kaspiisk, in the Republic of Dagestan, during celebrations marking the anniversary of the end of World War II. The bomb, which was remotely controlled, was hidden among bushes and detonated as veterans were parading. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, condemned the explosion as a terrorist act and stated that those responsible for the bombing would be punished. Dagestan has often been the scene of smaller bombings, which Russian officials attribute to the war against separatist rebels in the Chechen Republic. President Bush strongly condemned the deadly bombing incident in southern Russia that killed at least 36 people. In a statement released by the White House, he referred to the attack as a 'diabolical act of terrorism' and noted that this incident occurs at a time when the United States and Russia are united in a war against terrorism. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department described the attack as a 'barbarity' and stated it was clearly and overtly a terrorist act. The explosion in the port city of Kaspiisk in the Caspian Sea occurred during a parade commemorating Russia's victory in World War II. Vladimir Putin condemned the explosion, referring to it as a despicable act reminiscent of Nazism that lacks any value. He promised that those responsible for the incident would be pursued and punished. No one has claimed responsibility for this explosion so far.