A second blast tore through a trolley bus in Volgograd on Monday, coming only hours before a similar blast on Sunday, Monday's blast prompted Russia's president, Vladimir Putin to step the country's anti-terrorism security units throughout the country.
This second blast, that killed 14 and wounded another 30, comes on the heels of a blast at the entrance to the Volgograd train station just before the metal detectors in place there. In that blast, it is believed that a female suicide bomber detonated her bomb killing 17 in the deadliest blast in three years.
The blast today took place near a busy market during the morning rush hour. The impact tore off the roof of the bus and shattered windows in nearby buildings.
Russian investigators say that the devices set off on Sunday and Monday are very similar and they believe that the two attacks are connected.
Although there has not been a claim of responsibilty for the attacks, these attacks in Volgograd come after the release of a video by Chechen militant leader, Doku Umarov, who called on his rebels to use maximum force to keep Putin from staging the Olympics in Russia months ago. The attacks come as Russians are ramping up to their holiday season.
The games are to take place in Sochi, about four hundred miles to the southwest of the beleaguered city. The International Olympic committee expressed their condolences for the attacks and its victims but said they are confident that Russia will be able to provide adequate security for the upcoming games. Russia’s Olympic committee are confident as well and say that the security in place for the games will not need to be upgraded in light of the attacks.
Security in place for the games in Sochi include a security cordon around the entire city. Spectators going to the games will need to show passport details and contact information to enter the city.
The Winter Olympics in Sochi are due to kick off in 38 days on February 7th.