Russian leaders are blaming this week's Moscow airport bombing on Islamist groups from its restive southern republics, including one which calls for a Sharia-based state in the Russia's Caucasus mountains. Groups suspected in the attack include Chechen rebels from the terrorist organization Islamic Emirate of the Caucasus and Nogaisky Jamaat, an obscure militant group from the Russian republic of Dagestan.
Russian security forces have identified a suspect, Vitaly Razdobudko, from the Stavropol region just north of the Caucasus mountains. Razdobudko is believed to belong to Nogaisky Jamaat (Dzhamaat), a Dagestani terrorist organization that Russian forces supposedly broke up in October. "The idea that the Nogaisky Dzhamaat and Razdobudko are linked to the crime is being examined," a security source told the Interfax news agency. "Although the group (Nogaisky Jamaat) was almost totally broken, there are still fragments left and their aggression is now even greater."
On the other hand, the president of a Russian republic bordering Chechnya blamed the head of the local Islamist group, the Islamic Emirate of the Caucasus, a group that wants an independent, Sharia-based state in the Russia's Caucasus mountains. "These leaders of the North Caucasus underground are responsible, like Doku Umarov," Ingush President Yevkurov told reporters in reference to the terrorist group's leader. "The Caucasus Emirate did it, I am sure they did it… International airports, trains, crowds... It doesn't matter what you protect: It is like putting on a gel against mosquitoes. You will always miss a spot and they will find it." The Islamic Emirate's media site, Kavkaz Center, has not issued a claim of responsibility.
Russian politicians have also called for the adopting of new security measures. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered ministers "to examine the acting [transport security] legislation...and to prepare the proposals on...toughening responsibility," according to a Kremlin Press Agency statement. Other Russian politicians have called for the country to adopt "Israeli-style" security checks at airports and methods of fighting terror.
"I often use airports in different countries and continents, but I have not seen anything more monitored and safer than Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. Why not adopt at least a part of this Israeli experience?" committee head Mikhail Margelov asked. "The unprecedented security measures towards passengers in Israel are immediately visible when you arrive in the country, and everybody takes for granted the thorough screening," Russian Senator Vladimir Kulakov said.