Security tightened after Moscow bombing

Ruzyně Airport officials say they have tightened security in the wake of the deadly Jan. 24 bombing at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport.

The blast, which authorities are calling a terrorist attack believed to be the work of a suicide bomber, has left more than 30 dead and injured 110 more.

No Czechs were among those killed or injured, according to Petr Kolář, the ambassador to Russia; however, renowned Slovak actress Zuzana Fialová suffered minor injuries, according to the Czech News Agency (ČTK).

Ruzyně spokeswoman Michaela Lagronová said police are patrolling check-in desks and departure gates for flights to Russia. Airport security staff have been patrolling the arrival gates of flights coming from Russia.

While Ruzyně does not offer flights to Domodedovo Airport, several carriers fly from Prague to Sheremetyevo, another international airport in Moscow. Lagronová said those flights have not been affected.

Investigators say the explosion occurred in the international arrivals terminal near the baggage claim. At press time, authorities said they were not sure who was behind the blast, but similar attacks in Russia have been blamed on militants from the largely Muslim region of the North Caucusus in southern Russia.

Shortly after the attack, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gave a television address announcing a "special regime at all airports, at stations connecting to all airports and all major transit hubs."

The airport was closed for only 20 minutes following the bombing. Domodedovo handles more passenger traffic than the other airports in the area, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo. Some flights were diverted to those airports following the attack.

Only one Czech airport, in Pardubice, east Bohemia, offers direct flights to Domodedovo. Airport Director Vít Málek told The Prague Post no flight to Moscow was scheduled Jan. 24, but added that "regular traffic to Domodedovo continues."

Málek said he had not increased security as the airport typically has safety patrols at all arrival and departure gates. He said the only way airports can truly reduce the chance of similar attacks is to place guards and security scanners at entrances.

"Otherwise, there is no way to eliminate all of the danger," he said.

 - Klára Jiřičná contributed to this report.

Jack Buehrer can be reached at
jbuehrer@praguepost.com