Moscow Bombing Kills 39

Powerful blasts shook the city of Moscow on Monday leaving 39 people dead in its wake. Occurring within 45 minutes of each other, the two blasts hit the morning commuters during rush hour in downtown stations. The initial investigation has revealed that female suicide bombers had blown themselves up using belts of explosives.

The first explosion occurred beneath the FSB which is the successor to the infamous KGB. The second explosion occurred 45 minutes later near Gorky Park at the Park Kultury station, incidentally on the same line. Both bombers detonated the explosives as the doors opened after the trains pulled into the station. By late evening the carnage was cleared up and in its place flowers and plaques were placed remembering the dead. But the shrapnel marks are a grim reminder of the grotesque act of violence that occurred earlier.

The blast is attributed to the Islamist rebels retaliating against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s tough measures against them. In the last few weeks, several of the rebel leaders have been reported as killed by the Russian security forces. The death of each leader was heralded a victory for the Prime Minister’s iron-fisted approach. However, the rebels have so far not claimed any responsibility for the first attacks to occur in Moscow city in over six years. The FSB has, however, pointed the finger at the rebels based on the preliminary evidence. Prime Minister Putin has promised to “track down and kill” the perpetrators of this “disgusting” crime. Out of the 76 people admitted to hospitals, five remain in critical condition.

Afghan Bomb Attacks Kill At Least 12 Civilians

On Sunday, ten civilians were killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, while two others were killed by a roadside bomb in the eastern part of the country.

Violence continues to haunt Afghanistan with 2009 being the worst, after Afghan forces, backed by the United States defeated the Taliban in 2001. In 2009, over 2,400 civilians were killed due to violence in Afghanistan, an increase of 14% from figures in 2008, according to United Nations reports.
The suicide bomber was driving a rickshaw when he detonated his explosives near a crowded area where a picnic was being held to celebrate the Afghan New Year. The incident took place in the Gereshk district of Helmand.

The spokesperson to the provincial governor of Helmand said that the target had been an Afghan Army vehicle. He said that initial reports indicated that the suicide bomber attack had claimed ten lives and wounded around seven people.

Khan Mohamed, an eye witness who had been standing less than 50 meters away from where the incident took place also told Reuters that the rickshaw, with the suicide bomber was probably targeting an army vehicle. He said that once the army noticed the rickshaw, they had driven away faster in an attempt to avoid any harm.

None of the NATO-led forces in Kabul were wounded or killed in the attack, said a spokesperson. He stated that troops were currently at the scene in order to assess the situation.

The roadside bomb which claimed two lives and wounded four took place in Khost province which is located in the South-East of Afghanistan.

Suicide Bomber in Rickshaw Hits Pakistan Checkpoint

A suicide bomber who approached a checkpoint in a rickshaw in Pakistan killed around ten people yesterday (Saturday, March 13, 2010). The explosion also left thirty seven people injured.

This latest suicide attack comes just one day after twin suicide attacks in Lahore which resulted in 54 casualties while leaving 100 people injured.

These suicide attacks were followed by Taliban militants threatening to deploy over 1000 suicide bombers in retaliation to an army offensive.
The rickshaw bomber was apparently on his way to enter a courthouse located in Saidu Sharif, according to the police. A police spokesperson said the suicide bomber blew himself up when he had been stopped at the checkpoint. Police also said that a majority of the victims of the blast had been civilians.

Reuters reported an eyewitness statement which said that around five people, including a few women had been burnt to death in the explosion. A few vehicles and buildings were also damaged.

Following the collapse of peace agreements between the Pakistani army and militants, the army embarked on a huge offensive in Swat beginning last year. Up until these recent attacks, the area has been relatively peaceful.

The twin suicide bombings which took place a day before the rickshaw attack was aimed at military vehicles which were driving through crowded areas. Friday also experienced a few blasts in the city at night, all low in intensity, but still causing a number of injuries. The escalated state of violence has created a considerable amount of panic in the city, with people not knowing when and where the next attack will take place.

Chile Earthquake Aftermath

Bombings Rock Baquba Ahead of Iraq Elections

On Wednesday, Baquba, located in the North of Iraq was hit by a number of suicide bombings which killed around 31 people while injuring 48 people.

The attack, which was said to be carried out in three stages was the most fatal compared to those experienced in the past few weeks, and took place just a few days prior to the Iraqi parliamentary elections.

According to the police, the first two explosions took place, when the two suicide bombers drove cars packed with explosives which damaged police stations and government buildings. A third suicide bomber in an ambulance which was carrying victims from the first two explosions detonated the third bomb at the Baquba emergency hospital.

Responsibility has not been claimed by any militant group as of yet. Following the three explosions, curfew was declared in the city by the Iraqi police. They also said that they had taken in four suspects.

Iraqi and U.S. officials both foresaw an increase in insurgent violence, saying the time prior to the parliamentary elections would probably experience a number of attacks.

According to statements made by Iraqi officials, most of the fatalities were policemen who were sent in to help protect the area prior to the elections.

The election, scheduled for the 7th of March, is the second of its kind since Saddam Hussein was overthrown in 2003.

Political analysts say that this is a test of Iraq’s capability to maintain law, order and security, while attempting to carry out a smooth switch of power following many years filled with war and sectarian violence.

Bombings Rock Baquba Ahead of Iraq Elections

On Wednesday, Baquba, located in the North of Iraq was hit by a number of suicide bombings which killed around 31 people while injuring 48 people.

The attack, which was said to be carried out in three stages was the most fatal compared to those experienced in the past few weeks, and took place just a few days prior to the Iraqi parliamentary elections.

According to the police, the first two explosions took place, when the two suicide bombers drove cars packed with explosives which damaged police stations and government buildings. A third suicide bomber in an ambulance which was carrying victims from the first two explosions detonated the third bomb at the Baquba emergency hospital.

Responsibility has not been claimed by any militant group as of yet. Following the three explosions, curfew was declared in the city by the Iraqi police. They also said that they had taken in four suspects.

Iraqi and U.S. officials both foresaw an increase in insurgent violence, saying the time prior to the parliamentary elections would probably experience a number of attacks.

According to statements made by Iraqi officials, most of the fatalities were policemen who were sent in to help protect the area prior to the elections.

The election, scheduled for the 7th of March, is the second of its kind since Saddam Hussein was overthrown in 2003.

Political analysts say that this is a test of Iraq’s capability to maintain law, order and security, while attempting to carry out a smooth switch of power following many years filled with war and sectarian violence.

Massive Earthquake Strikes Chile

Central Chile was hit by a colossal earthquake on Saturday the 27th of February 2010 killing around 147 persons, although authorities expect the numbers to rise.

The earthquake which measured 8.8 on the Richter scale caused quite a bit of damage, wrecking roads, bridges and a number of buildings in a few areas as well as the capital city.

Michelle Bachelet, the President, following the quake, declared the affected areas as a ‘state of catastrophe’ and requested for calmness in the wake of the disaster.

The huge earthquake also set off a tsunami, which in turn, caused a number of warnings to go off in countries across the Pacific starting from Japan up to New Zealand.

The quake, which struck Chile at 0634 GMT, hit several few areas. One of them being an area located 115km north-east of Concepcion, and the other, 325km located to the south-west of Santiago. This earthquake is the biggest Chile has experienced in the last fifty years.

Maule journalists reported the deaths of 85 people in the region with other casualties reported in O’Higgins, Santiago, Biobio, Valaparaiso and Araucania.

Chile’s state television estimated the total number of deaths at 150.

Footage shown on TV showed one of the bridges at Concepcion which had caved into the Biobio river. Rescue efforts are underway, though rescue teams seem to be finding it hard to reach the city of Concepcion due to the damage caused to the infrastructure, according to television reports.

Close to thirteen people were killed by the massive earthquake in Santiago, with infrastructure damage caused as well. Many buildings collapsed due to the aftershocks, as well as a car park -smashing a lot of cars. The aftershocks also caused a fire at a chemical plant located in the outskirts of Santiago where the authorities were forced to evacuate everyone in the surrounding areas.

Massive Earthquake Strikes Chile

Central Chile was hit by a colossal earthquake on Saturday the 27th of February 2010 killing around 147 persons, although authorities expect the numbers to rise.

The earthquake which measured 8.8 on the Richter scale caused quite a bit of damage, wrecking roads, bridges and a number of buildings in a few areas as well as the capital city.

Michelle Bachelet, the President, following the quake, declared the affected areas as a ‘state of catastrophe’ and requested for calmness in the wake of the disaster.

The huge earthquake also set off a tsunami, which in turn, caused a number of warnings to go off in countries across the Pacific starting from Japan up to New Zealand.

The quake, which struck Chile at 0634 GMT, hit several few areas. One of them being an area located 115km north-east of Concepcion, and the other, 325km located to the south-west of Santiago. This earthquake is the biggest Chile has experienced in the last fifty years.

Maule journalists reported the deaths of 85 people in the region with other casualties reported in O’Higgins, Santiago, Biobio, Valaparaiso and Araucania.

Chile’s state television estimated the total number of deaths at 150.

Footage shown on TV showed one of the bridges at Concepcion which had caved into the Biobio river. Rescue efforts are underway, though rescue teams seem to be finding it hard to reach the city of Concepcion due to the damage caused to the infrastructure, according to television reports.

Close to thirteen people were killed by the massive earthquake in Santiago, with infrastructure damage caused as well. Many buildings collapsed due to the aftershocks, as well as a car park -smashing a lot of cars. The aftershocks also caused a fire at a chemical plant located in the outskirts of Santiago where the authorities were forced to evacuate everyone in the surrounding areas.

Massive Earthquake Strikes Chile

Central Chile was hit by a colossal earthquake on Saturday the 27th of February 2010 killing around 147 persons, although authorities expect the numbers to rise.

The earthquake which measured 8.8 on the Richter scale caused quite a bit of damage, wrecking roads, bridges and a number of buildings in a few areas as well as the capital city.

Michelle Bachelet, the President, following the quake, declared the affected areas as a ‘state of catastrophe’ and requested for calmness in the wake of the disaster.

The huge earthquake also set off a tsunami, which in turn, caused a number of warnings to go off in countries across the Pacific starting from Japan up to New Zealand.

The quake, which struck Chile at 0634 GMT, hit several few areas. One of them being an area located 115km north-east of Concepcion, and the other, 325km located to the south-west of Santiago. This earthquake is the biggest Chile has experienced in the last fifty years.

Maule journalists reported the deaths of 85 people in the region with other casualties reported in O’Higgins, Santiago, Biobio, Valaparaiso and Araucania.

Chile’s state television estimated the total number of deaths at 150.

Footage shown on TV showed one of the bridges at Concepcion which had caved into the Biobio river. Rescue efforts are underway, though rescue teams seem to be finding it hard to reach the city of Concepcion due to the damage caused to the infrastructure, according to television reports.

Close to thirteen people were killed by the massive earthquake in Santiago, with infrastructure damage caused as well. Many buildings collapsed due to the aftershocks, as well as a car park -smashing a lot of cars. The aftershocks also caused a fire at a chemical plant located in the outskirts of Santiago where the authorities were forced to evacuate everyone in the surrounding areas.

Massive Earthquake Strikes Chile

Central Chile was hit by a colossal earthquake on Saturday the 27th of February 2010 killing around 147 persons, although authorities expect the numbers to rise.

The earthquake which measured 8.8 on the Richter scale caused quite a bit of damage, wrecking roads, bridges and a number of buildings in a few areas as well as the capital city.

Michelle Bachelet, the President, following the quake, declared the affected areas as a ‘state of catastrophe’ and requested for calmness in the wake of the disaster.

The huge earthquake also set off a tsunami, which in turn, caused a number of warnings to go off in countries across the Pacific starting from Japan up to New Zealand.

The quake, which struck Chile at 0634 GMT, hit several few areas. One of them being an area located 115km north-east of Concepcion, and the other, 325km located to the south-west of Santiago. This earthquake is the biggest Chile has experienced in the last fifty years.

Maule journalists reported the deaths of 85 people in the region with other casualties reported in O’Higgins, Santiago, Biobio, Valaparaiso and Araucania.

Chile’s state television estimated the total number of deaths at 150.

Footage shown on TV showed one of the bridges at Concepcion which had caved into the Biobio river. Rescue efforts are underway, though rescue teams seem to be finding it hard to reach the city of Concepcion due to the damage caused to the infrastructure, according to television reports.

Close to thirteen people were killed by the massive earthquake in Santiago, with infrastructure damage caused as well. Many buildings collapsed due to the aftershocks, as well as a car park -smashing a lot of cars. The aftershocks also caused a fire at a chemical plant located in the outskirts of Santiago where the authorities were forced to evacuate everyone in the surrounding areas.