Officials have identified Magomed Yevloyev, a native of the Caucasus region's impoverished Ingushetia, as the bomber in the January 24 explosion at Domodedovo airport that also wounded more than 100 people.
Just a few months before the attack, Yevloyev briefly served in Russia's Pacific fleet based in far eastern Vladivostok, Kommersant daily reported today citing regional police sources. After he was drafted, Yevloyev went through initial training at the 165th regiment of the marine corps in Vladivostok and served in the fleet for another three months before receiving a leave of absence due to the illness of his father.
During his time in the navy, Yevloyev was treated for antritis and his nasal X-rays were used when identifying the suicide bomber's head after the Domodedovo airport attack, Kommersant reported. Yevloyev never returned to the marines to complete his service after the leave of absence, the report said.
His father, who lives in Ingushetiya's village of Ali-Yurt, has said his eldest son left home last September and visited once shortly before the attack to see his brother in sister. They have been arrested over suspected involvement of the Domodedovo plot.
The January 24 strike on Domodedovo airport has been claimed by Islamist Doku Umarov, who has taken credit for organising several deadly bombings since proclaiming himself head of the "Caucasus Emirate" movement in 2006.
Russian officials have refused to comment on Umarov's claims of responsibility, which were also not reported by the country's national television stations.