Moscow blast: Eyewitness accounts

Scene at Domodedovo airport. 24 Jan 2011 Reports say the blast happened in the baggage reclaim area

Moscow's Domodedovo airport, the busiest in Russia's capital, has been rocked by an explosion that has killed at least 35 people, officials say.

More than 100 people were injured in the blast, which reports suggest was the work of a suicide bomber.

Passengers who were at the airport at the time of the blast, describe what happened.

Ben, British businessman

We just landed from Hamburg. We were stuck in immigration queue when blast went off in end of baggage claim to the right where customs area is. I was about 100m (330ft) away.

It was a very loud noise that shook the walls and ceilings and shook a snow flurry of dust down on everyone.

We picked up our bags. The area in customs was deserted and covered in dust. There was no announcement at all, not in English, not in Russian.

We were told by an old man about the bomb. People looked quite panicked and worried. There were many emergency services workers and police.

We went into the arrivals area when suddenly people started to shout. Then emergency workers started wheeling in dead and injured people. I saw three dead people.

The injured were much more graphic though. There was an old man who had a bone sticking out of his leg. There were cleaners mopping the blood after each one of them.

Jeremy, British businessman

Start Quote

There was no announcement in English and nobody attempted to evacuate the airport or give any instructions”

End Quote Jeremy

I was in the queue at passport control when I heard a big explosion. I wasn't sure if it was external work, or an explosion inside the building.

It shook the ceiling, there was dust coming down as smoke was coming from inside the baggage hall. The dust was everywhere - you would think it's time to clean your glasses even if you don't wear glasses.

There was a little bit of panic, a few American ladies disappeared quite quickly, everybody else continued to queue.

We stood there for quite some time before learning what happened. There was no announcement in English and nobody attempted to evacuate the airport or give any instructions.

I learnt from a couple of German guys that there was an explosion. We boarded the train back to Moscow town centre.

Karen, British traveller

I was on the BA872 flight from the UK. I went through a very busy baggage area, which was full of luggage. There was a mountain of it, off the carousel, not collected. I located mine and made my way quickly through customs.

Luckily I had met up with Genya, our driver, who was taking me home. As we were leaving the car park, Genya stopped to pay and I was sitting in the car looking at the front and the left side of the terminal building.

While he was paying for the parking, there was a loud, low rumble and a jet of snow went up into the air on the roof to the left side of the terminal building, which then plummeted down over the glass front of the building.

Not knowing what had happened, I thought perhaps they were clearing snow off the roof. I thought, crickey, what a dramatic way to clear the snow.

About 20 minutes later we heard on the radio that it was a bomb and that more than 30 people had been killed. I am feeling a bit stunned having seen the footage of the hall where I had been a few minutes earlier. What a tragedy for all those innocent people who have lost their lives and those who are suffering as a result of this terrible event.

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