Mozdok truck bombing

{{Short description|Chechen separatist suicide bombing in a Russian military hospital}}

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = Mozdok truck bombing

| partof=Terrorism in Russia and Islamic terrorism in Europe

| alt =

| image =

| caption =

| map = {{location map |Russia |label=Mozdok |link=Mozdok | lat_deg =43 | lat_min =44 | lat_dir =N | lon_deg =44 | lon_min =42 | lon_dir =E}}

| map_size =

| map_alt =

| map_caption =

| location = Mozdok, Mozdoksky District, Russia

| target = Military personnel, hospital staff

| date = 1 August 2003

| time = around 19:00

| timezone = MSK

| type = Suicide truck bombing

| fatalities = 52 - 60{{cite web |title='No more survivors' in Russia blast |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3119925.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=31 August 2024 |date=3 August 2024}}

| injuries = 82

| perps = Abu Omar al-Kuwaiti (Al-Qaeda), Magomed Dadaev (the suicide bomber), Magomed Kodzoev

| susperps =

| weapons = Truck bombs

| numparts =

| dfens =

| motive = Islamic extremism,{{cite web |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/495807 |title="Зарема хочет взорваться, чтобы принести пользу исламу" |date=7 August 2004 |publisher=Kommersant |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Russian}} Chechen independence

}}

The Mozdok truck bombing occurred on 1 August 2003, when Chechen militants detonated a truck bomb at the military hospital in Mozdok.

Background

Mozdok contains one of Russia's most important military bases in the Caucasus. It has been used since the First Chechen War.{{cite web |title=Toll climbs in Russian truck bombing |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2003/8/1/toll-climbs-in-russian-truck-bombing |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=31 August 2024}}

Two different terrorist attacks were planned in Mozdok. However, the first attack, which was to be carried out by Zarema Muzhikhoeva, failed due to her falling ill and her car breaking down. She later attempted a suicide attack at a restaurant in the Tverskoy of Moscow, but the bomb failed to detonate, killing no one except a FSB bomb disposal expert. The Mozdok bombing was the second attack, which succeeded.

Russian authorities claimed that Abu Zaid Al-Kuwaiti was responsible for organizing the terrorist attack, including instructing the suicide bomber, Magomed Dadaev, with his role in the Beslan school attack being described in the same way. However, it was later found out that his role in the Beslan attack was greatly exaggerated.{{cite web |title=Генпрокуратура утверждает, что убитый Абу Дзейт – один из главных организаторов теракта в Беслане |date=4 March 2005 |url=https://www.newsru.com/russia/04mar2005/boevik.html |publisher=NEWSru.com |access-date=31 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210182041/http://www.newsru.com/russia/04mar2005/boevik.html |archive-date=10 December 2014 |language=Russian}}{{cite web |last1=Nick |first1=Walsh |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/02/russia.chechnya |work=The Guardian |access-date=31 August 2024 |date=2 Aug 2003 |title=Suicide truck bomb kills 35 at Russian military hospital}}

Attack

The suicide bomber was Magomed Dadaev.{{cite web |title=Terror acts committed by suicide bombers in the territory of the Russian Federation |url=https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/27022 |publisher=Caucasian Knot |access-date=27 September 2024 |language=English |date=30 December 2013 |quote="On August 1, in Mozdok, a suicide bomber Magomed Dadaev, driving a KamAZ truck, got into the territory of the Mozdok Military Hospital and triggered an explosive device near the main medical building, killing 52 people and wounding 78."}}

The blast occurred at about 19:00 MSK on 1 August 2003 when a KamAZ truck loaded with 10 tons of ammonium nitrate, roughly equivalent to one and a half tons of TNT, crashed into the hospital building at maximum speed, which destroyed it.{{cite web |title=Мощность взрывного устройства в Моздоке составила полторы тонны тротила |url=https://lenta.ru/news/2003/08/02/amount/ |publisher=Lenta |access-date=31 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831152953/https://lenta.ru/news/2003/08/02/amount/ |archive-date=31 August 2024 |language=Russian}} Additionally, several nearby buildings were damaged, including a cardboard factory that had its wall collapsed and a tent camp that was flattened. The attack was the eighth in Russia over a span of three months at the time of the incident.{{cite web |title=Truck Bombing at Russian Military Hospital Kills 35; Officials Blame Chechen Separatists |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/02/world/truck-bombing-russian-military-hospital-kills-35-officials-blame-chechen.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=31 August 2024 |date=2 August 2001}}

Reactions

=Domestic=

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, was immediately informed of the attack as it happened. Upon his request, a plane with rescuers and emergency equipment was sent to the city.{{cite web |title=При взрыве госпиталя в Моздоке погибли от 10 до 20 человек |url=https://lenta.ru/news/2003/08/01/mozdok1/ |publisher=Lenta |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Russian}} Shortly after, he sent the at-the-time defense minister Sergei Ivanov.

The Kremlin said that Putin had sent condolences to victims’ families. Putin reportedly demanded an explanation of how rebels managed to enter the area, leading to speculation that the guards may have been bribed by the suicide bomber.

The Russian government blamed the head of the Mozdosk hospital garrison and fired him, leading to backlash from the hospital staff.{{cite web |title=Group of public figures and human rights activists has spoken in defense of former head of Mozdok hospital |url=https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.media/articles/777 |access-date=31 August 2024 |date=28 August 2003}}

{{Blockquote

|text=“We have to admit… criminals are continuing to exploit weak points in the defences of military bases.”

|author=Deputy General Prosecutor {{interlanguage link|Sergei Fridinsky|ru|Фридинский, Сергей Николаевич}}}}

=International=

Amnesty International: Amnesty issued a statement on 9 December 2003, calling the recent bomb attacks in Russia 'indiscriminate' and a 'flagrant disrespect for civilian life'.{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/eur460952003en.pdf |publisher=Amnesty |access-date=31 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831152053/https://www.amnesty.org/fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/eur460952003en.pdf |archive-date=31 August 2024 |title=Russian Federation: Amnesty International condemns indiscriminate attacks}}
{{flag|USA}}: In an official press release, the United States press secretary sent condolences to the families of the victims, labeled the attack as terrorism, and condemned it.{{cite web |title=Statement on Mozdok Terrorist Act |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/08/20030801-11.html |publisher=Bush administration, White House |access-date=31 August 2024 |date=1 August 2003}}
{{flag|Turkey}}: In an official press release, Turkey expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and injuries, condemned the attack as terrorism, and reaffirmed its opposition to all forms of terrorism. Turkey also extended condolences to the victims' families and wished a quick recovery to the wounded.{{cite web |title=Press Release Condemning the Terrorist Attack in Mozdok No:129 - August 4, 2003 |url=https://www.mfa.gov.tr/_p_press-release-condemning-the-terrorist-attack-in-mozdok_br_no_129---august-4_-2003__p_.en.mfa |access-date=31 August 2024 |date=4 August 2003}}

Aftermath

As a result of the attack, the duty officer of the North Ossetian Ministry of Emergency Situations stated that the building was completely destroyed by the explosion and a huge crater was formed in its place. Windows near the incident were broken. According to the correspondent of the Vesti program, there were 115 people (military personnel and hospital staff) in the hospital at the time of the attack.{{cite web |title=При взрыве госпиталя в Моздоке погибли от 10 до 20 человек |url=https://lenta.ru/news/2003/08/01/mozdok1/ |publisher=Lenta |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Russian |date=2 August 2003}}

The head of the Mozdok hospital garrison was arrested. This decision was met with criticism from the hospital staff.

A new military hospital was shortly announced to be constructed.{{cite web |title=Сергей Иванов: В Моздоке будет построен новый госпиталь |url=https://lenta.ru/news/2003/08/02/mozdok3/ |publisher=Lenta |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Russian |date=2 August 2003}}

The families of those killed in Mozdok received 100 thousand rubles each, around $5006 USD at the time. Civilian victims received 50 thousand rubles each.{{cite web |title=Семьи погибших в Моздоке получат по 100 тысяч рублей |url=https://lenta.ru/news/2003/08/04/mozdok/ |publisher=Lenta |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Russian}}

A day of mourning was declared in North Ossetia, Russia. It was also announced that a marble slab with the names of the victims will be placed at the site of the attack.{{cite web |title=В Северной Осетии объявлен День траура по жертвам теракта в Моздоке |url=https://www.1tv.ru/news/2003-08-04/252348-v_severnoy_osetii_ob_yavlen_den_traura_po_zhertvam_terakta_v_mozdoke |publisher=Channel One Russia |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Russian |date=4 August 2001}}

Controversies

=Russian soldier bribing allegations=

Several Russian newspapers, according to Al Jazeera, claimed that the suicide bomber, Magomed Dadaev, bribed Russian guards to get past the multiple military checkpoints present in the area.

=Suspension and subsequent arrest of Artur Arakelyan=

The head of the Mozdok hospital garrison, who was also the commander of the 429th Motorized Rifle Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Artur Arakelyan was initially relieved of his duties{{cite web |title=Начальник моздокского гарнизона отстранен от должности |url=https://lenta.ru/news/2003/08/02/ivanov/ |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Russian |date=2 August 2001}} and then detained on 2 August 2001 by the North Caucasus Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, due to having a 'negligent attitude' to the orders presented to him.{{cite web |title=Задержан начальник моздокского госпиталя |url=https://graniru.org/Events/Terror/m.39571.html |publisher=GrainiRU |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Russian}} The doctors of the hospital publicly denounced this decision.{{cite web |title=Медики заступились за арестованного начальника взорванного госпиталя |url=https://lenta.ru/news/2003/08/04/hospital/ |publisher=Lenta |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Russian}}