Russia arrests plotters of twin metro bombings

Russia on Friday claimed a major breakthrough in the twin suicide attacks at Moscow metro stations, in which 40 people were killed, saying it has arrested the main plotters of the terror bombings.

"We have made arrests. Very serious work is underway," a law enforcement source was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. However, no other details were disclosed.

Earlier, the investigators had identified the suicide bombers as Dzhanat Abdurakhmanova (Abdulayeva), 17, and Mariyam Sharipova, 28, both residents of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Daghestan.

Forty people were killed and over 100 injured in the attacks. Abdurakhmanova was the widow of Daghestani militant Umalat Magomedov (Al-Bar), who was killed during a special law enforcement operation on December 31 last year, after he shot at policemen who were attempting to search a car he was traveling in.

Sharipova was a school teacher and wife of militant leader Magomedali Vagapov. In the course of investigation, the Moscow police found an apartment which was rented by the suspected male accomplices of the bombers, who are believed to have accompanied the two women to the metro and given them explosive belts.

Currently, the security forces are reported to be carrying out operations in Daghestan against Vagpov's militant gangs.