Umarov Purportedly Claims Moscow Metro Blasts

In a new video posted to an Islamist website, Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov appears to claim responsibility for two suicide bombings on the Moscow metro system that killed at least 39 people.

A video purporting to be Umarov was posted today on YouTube by the website kavkazcenter.com, an unofficial rebel website.

“The explosions in the Moscow metro were conducted according to my personal order,” the speaker says. “That is a response to the so-called special operations held by Russia’s FSB against noncombatant Chechens in the village of Arshty on February 1.”

Chechen rebels have dismissed as official disinformation claims by Russian forces that all of those killed in fighting near the Chechen border in early February were insurgents or accidental victims.

Rights activists have agreed that civilians killed in those operations appeared to have been deliberately killed, not caught in the crossfire as Russian forces claimed.

The speaker on the video continues, saying attacks against Russia will continue.

“Our action was a legitimate response to the crimes committed by Russians against the poorest and helpless part of the Chechen population. Our attacks in Russian territories will continue. The war will come to Russian cities and towns, so that Russians would not ignore the crimes and violent actions committed by Russian troops in the Caucasus.”

Umarov had vowed in February to stage attacks against Russian cities.

Reuters earlier today quoted a representative of the militant group Umarov leads as denying responsibility for the Moscow attacks.

Copyright (c) 2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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