Caucasus region viewed in bomb case

Suspicions in the Monday blast at Domodedovo Airport that killed 35 people and wounded 180 initially fell on Chechen rebels who have claimed responsibility for an array of deadly attacks over the years, including ones against the Moscow subway and at the same airport.

No one has claimed responsibility for this attack and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, perhaps sensitive about his failure to contain Chechnya’s Islamist rebellion, insisted Wednesday there was no initial indication of a Chechen connection.

However, Chechen rebels have inspired Islamist insurgent activity elsewhere in the Caucasus and the state RIA Novosti agency said up to 10 people from there are being viewed as possible suspects.

The Kommersant newspaper reported yesterday that police attention is focusing on an insurgent group called the Nogai Brigade, which reportedly observes the strict Wahhabi form of Islam. The group emerged in the early part of the last decade in the Stavropol region and sided with Chechen separatist groups.