Russia opens criminal probe into airport security lapse

Russia on Tuesday opened a criminal probe into security failures at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport the day earlier that allowed a suicide attack which killed 35 people, investigators said.

“The investigative committee has opened a criminal case connected with … the non-compliance of Domodedovo airport’s transportation security requirements,” the investigative committee said in a statement posted in its website.

The committee said the probe would look into whether security officials and their department heads had complied with the standard procedures required for keeping the airport safe.

“Investigators will also establish and meticulously probe the role played by Domodedovo airport executives,” said the statement, adding that the investigation would also target the airport’s regular security force.

The criminal code stipulates jail sentences of up to seven years for those found guilty of such violations, it noted.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said earlier in the day that the airport’s management should be held accountable for the suicide bombing.