The lethal explosive capable of pulverizing a large residential building in Moscow is identified as hexogen, cyclonite, or RDX.
It appears easy for a group to transport the explosive in bags to a warehouse on the lower floor of the building without attracting suspicion.
Detonation was achieved using a remote-controlled detonator or a timer, which recorded the explosion at 23 hours, 59 minutes, 58 seconds according to the seismograph.
Investigators determined that lethal cyclonite, an explosive three times more powerful than TNT used for artillery shells, was used to cause the devastation.
Cyclonite leaves indelible traces, and the investigation estimates it was produced within one year.
Official Statements and Initial Findings
A security service expert released a sketch of the facts, allowing Mayor Luzhkov to state that initially, no suspects or indications pointed to a terrorist scheme.
Putin called for a speedy and full explanation and a new "anti-terrorist plan."
Minister of Atomic Energy Evgeny Fedorov mentioned "additional security measures."
Investigation Progress and Suspects
Investigators noted that figures vanished like smoke, and profiles moved in the night, evading the investigation.
Three people transported bags to the central entrance of the building, where other shops and stores were located; their tracks are being sought.
No summons for interrogation was issued for the tenant of one store whose description was published in a newspaper.
The person described is a native of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, a region near the Caucasus known for civil unrest.
Government Hypotheses
The government remains reserved regarding the lethal substance.
Putin presented two main hypotheses:
Terrorism, which security services also consider "prevailing."
An act of "criminal negligence," essentially a work incident involving a group of bandits.
Political Context and Media Speculation
On Monday (September 11 - Saturday), the Prime Minister announced a day of national struggle.
Public opinion included hypotheses about a "Chechen trace" and internal struggles related to this explosion and the one in the Manege.
Izvestia reported on a connection scheme between the two bombs and the hypothesis involving Ruslan Gelaev, detailing alleged exhaustive telephone conversations between Gelaev and a security services emissary.
Related Incidents and Security Concerns
14.09.99. Russia in Chaos. Moscow, second slaughter.
The second incident in six days caused widespread fear in the capital, leading to dozens of bomb scares.
The incident in the employees' quarter involved the same quality of explosive and mysterious faces.
The death toll was extremely high (73, at the time of reporting).
New alarms distracted police, and rumors suggested another explosive charge was found in a local school, along with suspicious material in a nearby house.
Security services later announced that 43 bags of ammonal were found in the basement of a nearby house.
Behind-the-scenes space [secret intrigues]: Hunting for "Mr. Death"
Questions arose about how many buildings might be mined.
The same person rented offices in two buildings that were blown up, leading the trail toward the Chechen war.
A composite sketch was released, linking the individual to Basaev and Khattab, according to the Minister of Internal Affairs V. Rushailo.
The composite sketch was broadcast with a cover name, Mukhit Laipanov, and the caption "fake." (The owners of both rented warehouses named him; the real Laipanov died in a road incident.)
If the terrorist's mistake was appropriating the documents of a Caucasian citizen, a weak trail was improvised leading south.