2006 Volkgoroda bombings: Difference between revisions

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{{WIP}}
{{WIP}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2006 Volkgoroda bombings
| title = 2006 Volkgoroda bombings
| partof = [[Terrorism in Volkia|terrorism in Volkia]]
| partof = [[Terrorism in Volkia|terrorism in Volkia]]
| image =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption =
| map =
| map =
| map_size =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map_caption =
| location = [[Volkgoroda]], [[Volkia]]
| location = [[Volkgoroda]], [[Volkia]]
| target = Civilians
| target = Civilians, {{wp|first responders}}
| coordinates =
| coordinates =
| date = {{nowrap|{{start date and age |2006|11|18}}}}
| date = {{nowrap|{{start date and age |2006|11|18}}}}
| time = 7:02 - 7:18 p.m.
| time = 7:02 - 7:18 p.m.
| timezone = [[Volkia Standard Time|VST]]
| timezone = [[Volkia Standard Time|VST]]
| type = {{wp|Suicide bombings}}
| type = {{wp|Suicide bombings}}
| fatalities = 132 (including 4 perpetrators)
| fatalities = 132 (including 4 perpetrators)
| injuries = 362 (68 critical)
| injuries = 362 (68 critical)
| victims =
| victims =
| perpetrators =
| perpetrators = [[Yarkiye]]
| assailants =Square:
| assailants = Square:
* Isidor Koshkin {{small|(deceased)}}
* Isidor Koshkin {{small|(deceased)}}
* Vlasiy Volodin {{small|(deceased)}}
* Vlasiy Volodin {{small|(deceased)}}
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* Iosif Knyazev {{small|(deceased)}}
* Iosif Knyazev {{small|(deceased)}}
* Vanya Tereshchenko
* Vanya Tereshchenko
| weapons = {{wp|Improvised explosive device|IEDs}}
| weapons = {{wp|Improvised explosive device|IEDs}}
| motive =
| motive =
}}
}}


The '''2006 Volkgoroda bombings''', referred to colloquially as '''11/18''' or '''November 18''', were a series of coordinated suicide attacks in [[Volkgoroda]], [[Volkia]], that targeted civilians in Stefan Gurkovsky Square who were attending the Autumn Festival Market. The attacks caused the death of 128 civilians and injured 361, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in Volkian history.
The '''2006 Volkgoroda bombings''', referred to colloquially as '''11/18''' or '''November 18''', were a series of coordinated suicide attacks in [[Volkgoroda]], [[Volkia]], that targeted civilians in Stefan Gurkovsky Square who were attending the Autumn Festival Market. The attacks caused the death of 128 civilians and injured 362, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in Volkian history.


Four homemade bombs were detonated almost simultaneously within Stefan Gurkovsky Square and in the neighboring metro station. Two additional bombs were set to detonate; the first one malfunctioned and injured the bomber, Kostya Kuzmin, while the second failed to explode. The explosions were found to have been caused by {{Wp|triacetone triperoxide}} {{Wp|IEDs}} packed into suicide vests.
Four homemade bombs were detonated almost simultaneously within Stefan Gurkovsky Square and in the neighboring metro station. Two additional bombs were set to detonate; the first one malfunctioned and injured the bomber, Vanya Tereschenko, while the second failed to detonate his vest and fled the city. The explosions were found to have been caused by {{Wp|triacetone triperoxide}} {{Wp|IEDs}} packed into suicide vests.


The official police investigation found that the attacks were orchestrated by members of the religious doomsday cult [[Yarkiye]] and masterminded by its founder, [[Lukyan Yolkin]]. Yolkin, the failed bombers, and several other members of Yarkiye were convicted for their roles in the attacks. Yolkin and two other high ranking Yarkiye members received the [[Capital punishment in Volkia|death penalty]], while the failed bombers received life imprisonment with no parole due to their cooperation with investigators.
The official police investigation found that the attacks were orchestrated by members of the religious doomsday cult [[Yarkiye]] and masterminded by its founder, [[Lukyan Yolkin]]. Yolkin, the failed bombers, and several other members of Yarkiye were convicted for their roles in the attacks. Yolkin and two other high ranking Yarkiye members received the [[Capital punishment in Volkia|death penalty]], Tereshchenko received life imprisonment with no parole, and Kostya Kuzmin was sentenced to life imprisonment with parole after 25 years.


Following the attacks the Volkian government declared five days of {{Wp|national mourning}}.
Following the attacks the Volkian government designated Yarkiye as a terrorist organization and declared five days of {{Wp|national mourning}}.


==Background==
==Background==
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In 2004 three members of Yarkiye were arrested and convicted for possession of firearms which brought further attention to the group. A mass shooting later that year carried out by a Yarkiye member resulted in the deaths of 15 civilians; the perpetrator was killed by police. The group denied any planning but expressed sympathy to the victims, with an official statement saying the group hopes the victims "found Her Eternal Light." It was suspected the leadership of Yarkiye masterminded the attack but no official connection was found.
In 2004 three members of Yarkiye were arrested and convicted for possession of firearms which brought further attention to the group. A mass shooting later that year carried out by a Yarkiye member resulted in the deaths of 15 civilians; the perpetrator was killed by police. The group denied any planning but expressed sympathy to the victims, with an official statement saying the group hopes the victims "found Her Eternal Light." It was suspected the leadership of Yarkiye masterminded the attack but no official connection was found.


Yarkiye members were involved in at least two more incidents resulting in mass casualties prior to the bombing, but again investigators were unable to link the group's leadership with the perpetrators. A grand jury issued a subpoena for documents relating to these mass casualty incidents and Yarkiye offices were raided by agents from the [[National Bureau of Investigation]] in October 2006. It is believed these raids may have hastened the bombings; documents recovered in later police raids revealed the cult's original target was the Winter Solstice Festival in Volkgoroda.
Yarkiye members were involved in at least two more incidents with police prior to the bombing, but again investigators were unable to link the group's leadership with the perpetrators. A grand jury issued a subpoena for documents relating to these mass casualty incidents and Yarkiye offices were raided by agents from the [[National Bureau of Investigation]] in October 2006. It is believed these raids may have hastened the bombings; documents recovered in later police raids revealed the cult's original target was the Winter Solstice Festival in Volkgoroda.


== Attacks ==
== Attacks ==
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* '''7:10 pm''' – Emergency services begin arriving en masse to both sites.
* '''7:10 pm''' – Emergency services begin arriving en masse to both sites.
* '''7:11 pm''' – Fifth attacker's vest fails to detonate properly, critically injuring himself.
* '''7:11 pm''' – Fifth attacker's vest fails to detonate properly, critically injuring himself.
* '''7:18 pm''' – Sixth attacker taken into custody after his vest fails to detonate.
* '''7:30 pm''' – All public transport within the city is suspended.
* '''7:30 pm''' – All public transport within the city is suspended.
* '''7:32 pm''' – Volkia raises its terrorist threat level to its highest level and locks down Volkgoroda.
* '''7:32 pm''' – Volkia raises its terrorist threat level to its highest level and locks down Volkgoroda.
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On duty transit police alerted dispatch at 7:03 pm and the first ambulances began arriving at 7:08 pm.
On duty transit police alerted dispatch at 7:03 pm and the first ambulances began arriving at 7:08 pm.


A third bomber, Vanya Tereshchenko, detonated his suicide vest at 7:11 pm attempting to target first responders on scene. His vest failed to detonate properly and Tereshchenko was critically injured and ultimately paralyzed.
A third bomber, Vanya Tereshchenko, attempted to detonate his suicide vest at 7:11 pm attempting to target first responders on scene. His vest failed to detonate properly and Tereshchenko was critically injured and ultimately paralyzed. He was taken into custody and transported to the hospital.


=== Stefan Gurkovsky Square ===
=== Stefan Gurkovsky Square ===
Two additional bombers (Isidor Koshkin and Vlasiy Volodin), also wearing suicide vests, targeted civilians attending the annual Autumn Harvest Festival in Stefan Gurkovsky Square. At 7:04 pm, after the explosions at the metro station, the bombers detonated their vests simultaneously near the concert stage and the food vendors. Emergency services were quickly dispatched and began arriving at 7:09 pm.
Two additional bombers (Isidor Koshkin and Vlasiy Volodin), also wearing suicide vests, targeted civilians attending the annual Autumn Harvest Festival in Stefan Gurkovsky Square. At 7:04 pm, after the explosions at the metro station, the bombers detonated their vests simultaneously near the concert stage and the food vendors. Emergency services were quickly dispatched and began arriving at 7:09 pm.


Kostya Kuzmin was near the square and intended to target first responders at the triage center established by paramedics. He began approaching but "got cold feet" and left the scene. He dumped his vest in an alleyway and fled the city.
Kostya Kuzmin


==Perpetrators==
==Suspects==
===Profiles===
===Profiles===
A total of six attackers were involved, with four dying in suicide suicide bombings and the remaining two arrested after their suicide vests failed to detonate properly. They were identified and named as:
A total of six attackers were involved, with four dying in suicide suicide bombings, one was arrested in the minutes after the attack, and another was arrested in the weeks after. All six were confirmed to be members of Yarkiye, and Yarkiye's leadership was implicated in interviews with Kostya Kuzmin. They were identified and named as:
*Isidor Koshkin: aged 32.
*Isidor Koshkin: aged 32.
*Vlasiy Volodin: aged 26.
*Vlasiy Volodin: aged 26.
*Kostya Kuzmin: born March 4, 1984. Kuzmin assisted Koshkin and Volodin in the suicide bombings at the square, but failed to detonate his bomb. He was arrested by federal agents in Karatal on November 12, 2006. He was childhood friends with Iosif Knyazev. It is believed Kuzmin joined Yarkiye with Knyazev and Volodin in 2002, and had grown disillusioned with the teachings of Lukyan Yolkin by the time of the bombings.
*Dmitry Bychkov: aged 27.
*Dmitry Bychkov: aged 27.
*Iosif Knyazev: aged 31.
*Iosif Knyazev: aged 31.
*Vanya Tereshchenko: born November 1, 1983. Tereshchenko assisted Bychkov and Knyazev with the bombings at the metro station. His suicide bomb partially detonated, causing critical injury to himself and minor injuries to those around him. He joined Yarkiye in 2005 and allegedly believed in Yolkin's teachings fanatically. He was arrested and transported to the hospital for his injuries, where he survived.
*Kostya Kuzmin: born March 4, 1984.
*Vanya Tereshchenko: born November 1, 1983.
===Investigation===
===Investigation===


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