Moscow Domodedovo target of terrorist attack

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso condemned (24-Jan-2011) the terrorist attack at Moscow Domodedovo Airport on 24-Jan-2011 while Vice-President Siim Kallas, European Commissioner for Transport, has written to Russia Transport Minister Igor Levitin to offer technical support or assistance the Russian authorities may require. The airport was closed following the incident, resulting in cancellations and/or the diversion of services to Moscow Vnukovo Airport. There have been at least 35 fatalities and at least 133 injuries based on information from the Russian Health Ministry as at 24-Jan-2011. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered security be increased at all of the country's airports and transportation hubs following the attack (Reuters/RIA Novosti/AP/St Petersburg Times/Moscow Times/EUObservor/Wall Street Journal/Bloomberg, 24-Jan-2011). Aircraft from London and Brussels, as well as Greece, Ukraine and Egypt, had landed in the 30 minutes preceding the attack. The UN Security Council and US President Barack Obama were among those who condemned the terrorism act. A total of 77 airlines offer regular services to 241 Russian and international destinations from Domodedovo, which is also Russia's largest hub for hundreds of charter services. Meanwhile, calls have been renewed for the continued introduction and assessment of EU counter-terrorism policies in addition to tighter controls on access to the public areas of airports. [more - European Commission] [more - Air Malta] [more - Iberia] [more - Moscow Domodedovo]