Terrorism in Moscow, 3/29/2010 Moscow Attack a Test for Putin and His Record Against Terror

The brazen suicide bombings in the center of Moscow confronted Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin with a grave challenge to his record of curbing terrorism, and raised the possibility that he would respond as he had in the past, by significantly tightening control over the government.

The explosions Monday, set off by female suicide bombers in two landmark subway stations, killed at least 38 people and wounded scores of others, touching off fears that the Muslim insurgency in southern Russia, including Chechnya, was once again being brought to the country’s heart.

A commuter wounded in the bombing at the Park Kultury subway station in Moscow, shortly after the blast on MondayA commuter wounded in the bombing at the Park Kultury subway station in Moscow, shortly after the blast on Monday

The two stations involved

Emergency workers and commuters near the Park Kultury metro station in Moscow, after the rush hour bombing, the first on the Moscow metro in six years.

Commuters on a subway train injured by the blast at the Park Kultury subway station waited for medical care just outside the station.

A woman cried as Interior Ministry officers block her way in front of the exit of the Lubyanka metro station.

In this image from a television broadcast, victims of the blast at the Park Kultury station lie on the platform alongside a subway train that was hit by one of the blasts.

Outside the entrance to Lubyanka metro station, police sealed off the zone around the station after the attack.

Emergency workers carried the body of a victim of a bomb explosion at Park Kultury metro station in Moscow.

Moscow police and emergency officials coordinated their response to the bombing outside the entrance to Lubyanka metro station, where 23 people were killed.

Hundreds of commuters were forced to leave the subway system after bombing at the Park Kultury metro station.

Flowers were left in memory of victims of the bomb explosion at the Park Kultury station.

Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev, placed flowers in memory of the victims of the blast at the Lubyanka station.