Russian Suicide Bomb Attack: 'Black Widow' Bomber Kills 16 [VIDEO]

A suicide bomb attack inside a train station in Russia has left 16 people dead and several injured. The attack which took place at 12:45 PM took place in the city of Volgograd, approximately 550 south of Moscow. The attack is a chilling reminder of the danger faced by Russian officials in the lead up to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Vladimir I. Markin, a spokesman for the Investigative Committee condemned the bombing as a terrorist attack.

"Most likely, the victims could have been much higher if the so-called protective system had not stopped the suicide bomber from getting through the metal detectors into the waiting room where there were passengers," Mr Markin said in a statement on the committee's website. Indeed, the bombing, captured by security surveillance, shows the explosion occurring before the metal detectors installed in many Russian train stations, indicating that were it not for these systems, the death toll could have been much worse.

As yet, no group has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack, however, the bombing comes several months after Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov announced his intention to target civilians in Russia, including the Olympic Games. This is the second attack to rock Volgograd in as many months.

World leaders have come out in condmenation of the attack. The United Nation's Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon has called the bombing an act of terrorism: "The secretary-general condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist bombing today at a train station in Volgograd, Russian Federation," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesperson.

Meanwhile the Argentinean Government released the following statement: "along with the Argentinean people, we extend are deepest condolences to the families of the victims and express our solidarity with those injured in this heinous act, as well as the Government of the Russian Federation."

Russian security forces revealed the attacker was the widow of two Islamist militants killed by Russian forces.