Muscovites mourn metro dead

The scent of freshly cut flowers and candle wax wafted through Lubyanka metro station yesterday, where just a day earlier the air had been thick with the smell of explosives.

At both stations where the blasts occurred, impromptu memorial stands were set up.

Mourners piled up roses and carnations in the central hall between platforms; some also left Orthodox Christian icons, and lit candles.

A makeshift red notice had been erected, stating that a terrorist attack occurred that had caused loss of life. The friends and relatives of victims were in tears, while other well-wishers stood by quietly and crossed themselves.

"Why would they do something like this?" asked Irina, 19, who was laying flowers at Park Kultury metro station, the site of the second blast.

Her brother had studied with a girl who died on the train. "To be honest I don't know anything about Chechnya. I just know they are dangerous people. They should all be kicked out of Moscow."

Police presence in the metro was heightened, and people with dark skin were singled out and asked to show their passports and Moscow registration papers.

Muscovites are nervous about the prospect of repeat attacks, but they are stoical people and yesterday the trains were packed full of commuters as normal.

- INDEPENDENT