Russian Air Disaster Was Suicide Attack, According to U.S. Sources

ABC News ^ | August 27, 2004

[Dog Gone]

Wreckage of a Tu-154 airliner is seen at a crash site near Gluboky in the Rostov region some 600 miles south of Moscow, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2004. (Sergei Venyavsky/AP Photo)	— Suicide bombers, in precision attacks, destroyed two Russian domestic airlines, which killed 90 people Tuesday, U.S. sources told ABC News.
Traces of explosives found in one of two downed Tupolev planes match explosives used in the 1999 bombing attacks of Moscow apartments by Chechen separatists, according to two U.S. government sources. These sources told ABC News that according to reports received by U.S. investigators in Moscow, suicide attacks are now being viewed as the most probable cause for the destruction of the planes. U.S. government sources confirm that investigators in Russia have a "very high degree of certainty" that "martyrs," or suicide bombers, were involved in the attack. The highly sophisticated explosive RDX — also known as cyclonite or hexogen — is a military explosive with very limited commerical use. In what Russian sources are calling "Russia's 9/11," Sibir Airlines' Tu-154 and Tu-134 jets went down within 20 minutes of each other after taking off from the same Moscow airport Tuesday night. Unidentified Chechen Women on Board Although Russia's Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, has been cautious about calling Tuesday's attacks the work of terrorists, Russian media reports have indicated otherwise. The ITAR-TASS news agency reported today that, according to air traffic controller sources, the Tu-154 signaled three times that it had been hijacked before it crashed. The Russian Strana.ru news service reported that there was at least one Chechen woman aboard each of the planes, and that no one has come to identify or claim their remains. Some of the remains of the Chechen woman on the Tu-154 were found in the plane's rear toilet, according to the report. Chechen female bombers — known as "black widows" in Russia — have recently begun participating in major militant operations in Russia.
Chechnya's 'black widows" first shot into the limelight during the deadly October 2002 Moscow theater siege and have been responsible for several attacks since, according to Russian officials. Tuesday's aviation disaster came days ahead of crucial Chechen presidential elections set for this weekend, and Russian security forces were on alert for terrorist attacks. Web ‘Statement’ Claims Responsibility The new findings follow a purported Web statement by an Islamist group taking responsibility for Tuesday's "operation." In the statement, a group called the Islambouli Brigades said it had five mujahedeen, or holy fighters, on board each aircraft. It warned this act would be followed by others "until the killings of our Muslim brothers in Chechnya cease." Russian security officials have refused to confirm or comment on the statement. Although it is not known if the Islambouli Brigades has any link to al Qaeda, a group with a similar name claimed responsibility for last month's attempt to assassinate a senior Pakistani official.

[Netizen]

An airport consultant this morning on FoxNews said that the necessary kind of chemical/explosive elements detection equipment is only available at 4 of over 400 airports.

This kind of explosive material, apparently, can be easily taken aboard planes.

Remember that flight where the woman saw the muslim men and remarked about them being in the restroom a long time?

Dry run?

[Dad2Angels]

I don't mean to minimize the deaths of these 90 innocents and these acts were certainly cowardly and vile but they are about 2,800 deaths of innocents shy of being a 9/11.

[hattend]

The ragheads better watch out. they pi$$ off the Russians and I don't think they will be able to take shelter in so-called "holy sites" anymore. The Russians will level the places without a though about it.

[hattend]

The ragheads better watch out. They pi$$ off the Russians and I don't think they will be able to take shelter in so-called "holy sites" anymore. The Russians will level the places without a thought about it.

[jpl]

No doubt but had Putin allied with us in putting boots on the ground, he could have changed the world. He missed a huge opportunity, huge.

Not only is Putin not helping us in Iraq, he's actively working in Iran to speed their way to being a nuclear power.

[Netizen]

I think they just mean verifiable terrorist attacks by hijacked planes at the hands of suicide bombers. I think they realize that 90 is not 3,000, but that doesn't diminish the deaths nor mourning.

[7.62 x 51mm]

Chechen separatists = Muslims. C'mon ABCNews: tell the damned truth! Quit sucking-up to terrorists.

[Dog Gone]

Having successfully pulled off this kind of operation in Russia, there's absolutely no reason why they couldn't pull it off here.

Terrorists boarding flights all over the country with instructions to detonate at a specified time. You could bring down more than a hundred airliners all over the country.

[jwalsh07]

I know, he made his choice. Wrong choice.

[jimbo123]

Experts Cite Blasts, Two Chechens in Double Plane Crashes

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1201022/posts

"Experts, meanwhile, cite evidence of small blasts at the rear of the planes..."

[Netizen]

The ragheads better watch out. They pi$$ off the Russians and I don't think they will be able to take shelter in so-called "holy sites" anymore. The Russians will level the places without a thought about it.

Let's hope so.

[from occupied ga]

And why would FIVE operators be needed for a bomb? The shoebomber acted alone.

To carry in 5 times the amount of explosive one person can, of course.

[7.62 x 51mm]

Giant spiders:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1200837/posts

[maestro]

And why would FIVE operators be needed for a bomb? The shoebomber acted alone. To carry in 5 times the amount of explosive one person can, of course.

Assured........'back up'......if others get 'detained' (grounded)....

:-(

[jimbo123]

[old-ager]

> The Chechen woman blew herself up in the rear lavatory with an improvised explosive device smuggled aboard in her private areas.

Definitely plausible. Is this a theory, or do you have a source?

[7.62 x 51mm]

Giant spiders:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1200837/posts

[goodnesswins]

Oh, thanks....I really needed to KNOW THAT! ("RDX can be disguised in something as small as a bar of soap.")....I already hated flying.....and now I won't want to at all!

[wideminded]

In the statement, a group called the Islambouli Brigades said it had five mujahedeen, or holy fighters, on board each aircraft.

This is an odd name for a Chechen group. Khalid al-Islambouli was the name of one of the assassins of Anwar Sadat. The choice of name would make more sense if Egyptians such as Ayman al-Zawahiri were involved.

Although it is not known if the Islambouli Brigades has any link to al Qaeda, a group with a similar name claimed responsibility for last month's attempt to assassinate a senior Pakistani official.

Zawahiri has been reported to be in Pakistan.

[GBA]

Not long ago there was the story about the Syrian musical group that did lots of suspicious things on a flight from Michigan(?) to someplace out west, including hanging out by the lavatories in groups.

Lots of people here thought the writer of that story was being too paranoid, but I think she was just being smart and observant. I wonder if any of the passengers on the Russian planes knew what was going on. Too bad none of them will ever write an article to tell us about it. If I have a choice, it's better to be paranoid than dead.