Terrorists Targeting Russians, Winter Olympics

A suicide bomb exploded at a bus station this morning in the Russian city of Volgograd.

It's the second blast in two days in the city just 400 miles from the site of the Winter Olympics. The station is a key hub for transportation in the region.

Officials say a suicide bomber blew himself up on a trolleybus, killing at least 14 people and wounding nearly 30 others.

The bombing on the day before was caught by a surveillance camera.

"There were bodies everywhere," a woman said. "Inside the train station everything is destroyed."

At least 17 people were killed. The bomb went off just after noon on a peak travel day in Russia. Russian authorities say the two bombings are related and no doubt an act of terrorism.

Recently a terrorist leader called for attacks against civilian targets in Russia, including at the winter olympics. The attacks have raised security fears for the safety of travelers headed to the games in Sochi in February.

Christopher Swift, Georgetown University Adjunct Professor of National Security Studies said, "I think the Russian government has something to fear and that is the potential loss of face, the potential embarrassment to them if this terrorist syndicate is able to pull off one or more major terrorist events."

Volgograd is an important train link from Moscow to Sochi. Both cities are located near the unstable North Caucasus region where Islamic terrorists have been fighting a brutal rebellion for the past two decades.

CBN News recently took a trip to the region. Though Christians are harshly persecuted, we spoke to a pastor who is working to bring peace through the gospel.

"I am convinced that it is the love of Christ that can turn this region around," said Pastor of Transfiguration Church Gennady Terkun.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has deployed tens of thousands of soldiers, police and other security personnel for the games. Russian President Putin promises the safest Olympics in history despite the recent attacks.