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    Behind the Moscow subway bombing

    Chechen terrorism’s ranks of women

    Maclean's
    <p>Picture taken on December 15, 1994 shows Chechen women during an anti-Russia rally in front of the Chechen parliament building in Grozny. Russia on April 16, 2009 ended an anti-terror operation in Chechnya that has been in place for a decade, amid growing stability in the territory torn by two wars since the collapse of Communism. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER NEMENOV (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images)</p>

    Picture taken on December 15, 1994 shows Chechen women during an anti-Russia rally in front of the Chechen parliament building in Grozny. Russia on April 16, 2009 ended an anti-terror operation in Chechnya that has been in place for a decade, amid growing stability in the territory torn by two wars since the collapse of Communism. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER NEMENOV (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images)

    Russian authorities took little time saying that female suicide bombers from the Northern Caucasas are suspected of carrying out the morning attacks that killed at least 36 people and injured dozens more. This BBC backgrounder explains why there are so many Chechen women willing to kill themselves to inflict terror. Russian soldiers fighting in Chechnya have left countless women widowed, or killed their sons, brothers or fathers. They have also raped many who afterward find it hard to live a normal life. Post-traumatic stress disorder is reportedly widespread among Chechen women. And Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov is thought likely to use female suicide bombers.

    BBC News