Russian Officials Blame Chechen Separatists for Moscow Metro Blasts

Russian officials are already saying that the two explosions in Moscow’s metro this morning were caused by female Chechen suicide bombers.

"Our preliminary assessment is that this act of terror was committed by a terrorist group from the North Caucuses region," said Alexander Bortnikov of the Federal Security Service. "We consider this the most likely scenario, based on investigations conducted at the site of the blast.

"Fragments of the suicide bombers body found at the blast, according to preliminary findings, indicate that the bombers were from the North Caucasus region," he said, reports CNN.com.

A website associated with Chechen separatists claimed responsibility for the attacks. Chechnya is located in an area of Russia known as the North Caucasus, located between the Black and Caspian Seas.

The blasts killed at least 35 people and wounded 65 others, Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said. The casualty tolls were fluctuating immediately after the blasts.

The first explosion occurred at 7:56 am at Lubyanka subway station, killing at least 23 people and injuring 18, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported on its website.

The Lubyanka station is near the Kremlin and the nation's intelligence service, the Federal Security Service.

Another blast happened about 40 minutes later at Park Kultury station, on the same train line. The ministry reported 12 dead in the second explosion, with 20 more injured.