Volgograd blasts: Putin vows to ‘annihilate terrorists’

Terrorism returned to Russia in December 2013. Two separate explosions ripped through Volgograd’s train station on 29 December 2013 and a trolleybus on the 30 December 2013. On the 31 December 2013 the death toll from the suicide bombings had climbed to 34 after two of over a hundred injured victims died.

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to fight 'terrorists until their complete annihilation'.

By the 31 December 2013 no group had claimed responsibility for the attacks. They were similar to previous attacks by Islamist militants operating from the North Caucasus.

On 2 January 2014, BBC News reported that Russian security forces in the city of Volgograd had detained more than 700 people in a crackdown following the two bomb blasts.

• Primary Source

European Council: President: Press Release, 29.12.13: Statement by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy on the terrorist attack in Volgograd http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140281.pdf

RIA Novosti, 31.12.13: Death Toll in Volgograd Blasts Rises to 34 http://en.ria.ru/russia/20131231/186111366/Death-Toll-in-Volgograd-Blasts-Rises-to-33.html

RIA Novosti: Tag: Terror Attacks in Volgograd (December 2013) http://en.ria.ru/trend/terror_attacks_volgograd_29_30_december_2013/

Euronews, 30.12.13: Volgograd bombings are terrorists proving they can strike says Carnegie expert http://www.euronews.com/2013/12/30/volgograd-bombings-are-terrorists-proving-they-can-strike-says-carnegie-expert/

Blog: The Economist: Eastern Approaches, 30.12.13: Terrorism in Russia: A threat made real http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2013/12/terrorism-russia

The Guardian, 29.12.13: Terrorism in Russia: the road to Sochi (Editorial) http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/29/terrorism-russia-road-sochi-editorial

Deutsche Welle, 30.12.13: Sokiryanskaya: 'Russia's terror threat is real' http://dw.de/p/1AjGo

Wikipedia: Caucasus Emirate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus_Emirate

Blog: Global Voice: RuNet Echo, 31.12.13: Twin Acts of Terror for Russia's New Year http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/12/31/twin-acts-of-terror-for-russias-new-year/

BBC News, 02.01.14: Russia detains hundreds after Volgograd bombings http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25580380

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