Spam text message saying Happy New Year triggered 'Black Widow' suicide bomber's explosive belt early



Blast killed bomber instantly, but two accomplices were unhurt

Woman was believed to be part of group that carried out Domodedovo attack

Cell may have been trained by Al-Qaeda in Pakistan

A suicide bomber planning to detonate her explosives in central Moscow was killed after a spam text message from her mobile phone company triggered the device early.

The 'Black Widow' bomber, who has not been named, had intended to detonate the explosives in a busy square on New Year's Eve.

But the spam message wishing her a happy New Year caused it to go off earlier than planned, instantly killing her but not harming others, security sources said.

Attack: An ambulance outside Domodedovo Airport in Moscow. Security services said a 'Black Widow' bomber killed herself after a spam text message detonated her explosives early

She was at a safe house in Moscow with two other bombers when the device exploded. They both survived and were seen fleeing the scene.



Mobile phones are often used as detonators by Islamist terrorist groups in northern Russia.

A 'handler' who watches the bomber as they move into the target area sends them a text message to detonate the explosives.

The phones, which have not been previously used, are usually kept turned off until the last minute, but Russian security sources told The Daily Telegraph they switched it on early.

The woman's handler has been named as Zeinat Suyunova, 24. Her husband is believed to be in prison for being a member of a radical Islamist terror group.

Victims: The suicide bombing killed 35 people on Monday in the baggage hall of the airport

Plot: The attacks were believed to have been carried out by radical Islamist groups in the Caucasus region

Security services believe the failed bomber may have been part of the same group which targeted Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Monday.

Thirty five people were killed after explosives were detonated in the baggage hall at the airport, and hundreds were injured.

The remains of a male suicide bomber were still being identified with reports he may have had a female accomplice. He was today said to be a 20-year-old man from the Caucasus region.

The Federal Investigative Committee made the announcement in a website statement today.

Both groups of bombers may have been part of a squad trained in al-Qaeda camps in Pakistan.

It comes after Russia's parliament yesterday gave preliminary approval to a law creating color-coded terrorist threat alerts, similar to that used in the U.S.

