The attack on Avtozavodskaya, the terrible consequences of terrorism

On February 6, 2004, in the Moscow metro, between Paveletskaya and Avtozavodskaya stations, a terrorist attack occurred with a large number of casualties and injuries. Several years have passed since that memorable day, but people did not forget about the tragedy, and on that day flows of mourners flock to the metro station "Avtozavodskaya", laying flowers in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack.

Explosion in the subway tunnel

In the morning, at 8:32, the subway train, as usual, was completely filled with passengers hurrying to work and study. This time is called "rush hour". Often, terrorists organize terrorist attacks at this hour, and choose the busiest places, since only this will be the maximum number of victims. The train managed to drive away from the station Avtozavodskaya only 300 meters, as in the second car there was an explosion of great destructive power. Immediately after the explosion, a strong fire began, the fifth degree of complexity.

The second car, engulfed by flames, was severely disfigured. The third car was crushed by an explosive wave, which, striking the walls of the tunnel, ricochet squeezed it. From the blast wave, scattering into small pieces, all the glasses flew out in wagons close to the site of the explosion. The right windshield was broken in the driver's cab. The second car was a terrible sight: a mess from the bodies of the dead people, a fire that devoured everything around, and it was impossible to get out of the car, yes, in general, there was nobody.

The scale of the terrorist attack confirms the death toll - 41 people, if we do not take into account the suicide bomber, and 250 victims in different degrees. These figures will increase with the memory of families who lost their loved ones because their grief is irreplaceable. At the station "Avtozavodskaya" a memorial plaque with a list of the victims of the terrorist act is installed, and at its foot there is a flowerpot. The vase always has fresh bouquets. Every year, people commemorating the victims on the day of the tragedy's memory, laying flowers and lighting candles.

The attack on Avtozavodskaya rallied the Russians, filling with a sense of compassion and just anger towards the terrorists. The country also recognized its heroes who live among us. People who are able at the decisive moment to take responsibility, to act in extreme conditions skillfully and promptly.

The driver-rescuer

Engineer Vladimir Gorelov this morning ran a train in which an explosion occurred. He did not lose his head, acting quickly and professionally: he applied emergency braking and, using the speakerphone, asked the passengers not to panic. Then, after contacting the dispatcher, he informed him that there was a terrorist attack on Avtozavodskaya and asked to turn off the high voltage so that people would not be harmed during the evacuation. Further, he opened the doors of the train and began to take people out. The task was complicated: it was impossible to return to Avtozavodskaya station, although it was nearby. With the wounded people from the first car in a smoke-filled tunnel, the driver led the people to the station "Paveletskaya" (it is almost 2 km). A brave man was awarded the Order "For Courage".

Heroes among us

The attack on Avtozavodskaya showed that courage is a distinctive feature of Russians. Another Order "For Courage" was received by Colonel of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Sergey Kavunov. He was an expert in work in emergency situations, he quickly orientated himself in the situation, organized an evacuation and curbed the tendency to panic. People calmly began to leave the scene of the terrorist act, helping each other. Many heroes received medals and badges of honor for showing courage in such a difficult situation.

Efficiency of the rescue system

The attack on "Avtozavodskaya" showed how quickly the services of the Ministry of Emergency Measures and "first aid" work. 20 minutes after the explosion, brigades for rendering assistance to the victims arrived: fifteen rescuers and firefighters calculations, 60 ambulance brigades, five groups of the Center for Emergency Medicine for Disasters, three brigades of the Center for Medicine of Catastrophes of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation "Protection", three groups of psychologists. The injured were taken to the NV Sklifosovsky Institute of Emergency Care , NN Priorov Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics and to city hospitals.

Terrorists are found and punished

Now everyone knows that the terrorist attack in the subway at Avtozavodskaya was carried out by the suicide bomber Anzor Izhayev, who at the time was just 21 years old. He entered the car at the station "Kantemirovskaya", and when the electric train left Avtozavodskaya station towards Paveletskaya, the terrorist brought the explosive device into action, having detonated himself and all the passengers in the car. Later, his accomplices were revealed: the employee of the Ministry of Justice Murat Shavayev, who organized the terrorist act and delivered the components for the explosion, Maxim Ponaryin and Tambii Khubiyev, responsible for the preparation of explosives. All of them were sentenced to life imprisonment on February 2, 2007.

The terrorist act at the metro station "Avtozavodskaya" became the impetus for carrying out a tough anti-terrorist policy in the state. Security measures were widely reinforced, video surveillance was installed in the metro area and even in electric trains.

February 9, 2004 was declared the day of mourning. The attack on Avtozavodskaya, 10 years since it was celebrated in the winter of 2014, people will never forget. The pain of loss of loved ones, of course, will not abate, and the victims will always remember those who helped them. Terrorists are punished. But I would like to hope that the universal dream will come true - to live in a safe world full of love and compassion.