Svetlana Kuznetsova, 50, teacher

I can’t understand why they can’t make a city like Moscow safe to live in. Why can’t I go wherever I want without the risk of being blown up in a passageway? Actually, I was supposed to be at Pushkin Square at the time of the explosion, but I’d forgotten something and … I went back home. When a tragedy happens far away, it doesn’t affect you. But … now I’m afraid when the subway suddenly stops. I can’t understand why the police check my documents and ask me to open my bag all the time.

Alexei Nizov,

17, student

After the blast, I became more aware of things around me. I am wary of going through passageways. I look around checking for suspicious bags and boxes. It’s necessary to check documents, but why are only Chechens under suspicion? Russians could be doing the same things. ... We have to think about our safety ourselves, doing such things as organizing watchmen in every entrance.

Olga Korshunova, 19, student

I don’t feel safe in Moscow, but that doesn’t mean I would change my way of life and avoid such beautiful places as Okhotny Ryad or Pushkin Square. … I believe in fate. What is destined to happen will happen. The measures that our government has taken are correct. But I don’t think it will totally eliminate the possibility of terrorist acts. And why does the president concentrate all of the protection forces in this city? A tragedy like this could happen in any city in these troubled times.

Marina Molodykh, 19, student

I don’t think Chechens should be blamed for this blast. I see a political motive behind all the recent blasts. There are some serious politicians fighting for power in our country. I don’t exclude the possibility that Moscow Mayor [Yury] Luzhkov is involved. Every TV program speaks about the blast, shows photographs of presumed criminals. In the streets, you see one policeman every 10 meters, every entrance has a code, but it doesn’t help. I heard that near the FSB building, a lost parcel sat there for three days and no one paid attention.

Tatyana Vasilyeva, 55, interpreter

Although I’m not a frequent visitor to such popular places in Moscow, the blast troubled me. I haven’t felt safe here for a very long time. For example, on the day of the putsch, I happened to be in the center of activity just by chance. … The door-code system in every entrance is so simple that a child could get past it.

Vladimir Kotov, 34, entertainer

I definitely don’t feel safe in Moscow. But I can’t say this explosion surprised me. I felt something horrible was going to happen. People in this country are getting fed up with the government. … So the government orders the explosions. Those who actually place the bombs could be of any nationality. I find it impossible that a Chechen could have left a bag in a public place without someone noticing. It must have been a man with a Russian appearance and, of course, with some kind of official police documents.