SEVERAL TOP RUSSIAN TRANSPORT officials have been fired following Monday’s deadly suicide bomb attack on Moscow’s Domodedovo airport.

Thirty-five people were killed and over 100 were injured in the attack inside the airport’s arrivals hall.

Blaming lax security for the explosion, President Medvedev said yesterday via Twitter that “law enforcement and government officials responsible for transport security will be held to account”.

An interior transport minister, the head of the Domodedovo airport police and his two deputies were fired by Medvedev, according to Russia Today.

The investigation into the bombing continues.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that initial inquiries suggest that the attack has no connection with Chechen separatists, Interfax reports. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but security officials told Reuters that they believe the suicide bomber was linked to North Caucasus Islamic militant groups.

Reuters also reports that Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets says that another bombing was planned for New Year’s Eve in Moscow city, but that attempt was foiled when the device detonated prematurely.

The AP reports that although the Domodedovo attack will prompt a review of security procedures for general-access areas at airports, it is unlikely to cause the introduction of more stringent measures.

Domodedovo continued to operate, albeit at a reduced capacity, on Monday evening after the attack.

CCTV footage of the explosion at Domodedovo on Monday: