Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed the deputy head of Moscow's police after a deadly terrorist attack at Russia's biggest airport was blamed on poor security, the Kremlin said on its website on Wednesday.
Major-General Vladimir Chugunov had been in office since 2001.
A powerful blast struck the busy international terminal of Moscow's Domodedovo Airport on Monday evening, killing 35 people and injuring up to 180. Conflicting reports suggest the attack was carried out by a female Black Widow suicide bomber accompanied by a man, or a man on his own.
Medvedev blamed the tragedy on poor security at the airport, which he described as "chaos," and demanded that Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service (FSB) officials responsible for security be punished.
Wednesday has been declared a day of mourning in Moscow for victims of the attack. Flags are flying at half mast across the capital and the surrounding region and TV companies have been advised by the mayor's office to cancel all entertainment programs as a sign of respect.
MOSCOW, January 26 (RIA Novosti)