The explosion in an underpass in central Moscow appears to have been designed to cause maximum casualties. More than 100,000 people are believed to use the area daily and the timing of Tuesday's blast - to coincide with the evening rush hour - is an indication of the evil intent of the perpetrators. Ordinary citizens were returning home from work. The dead and the maimed were innocent civilians who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Moscow's Mayor, Mr Yuri Luzhkov, was quick to lay the blame on Chechen separatists. So too was the interior minister, Mr Vladimir Rushailo, a man noted for his hardline stance on Chechnya and his hectoring of UN human rights commissioner, Mrs Mary Robinson, on her last visit to Moscow.
Against this background, it was refreshing to see President Putin adopt a more cautious and sensible approach. He has resisted the temptation to pin immediate blame on an ethnic minority, while taking personal responsibility for the investigation that is under way. In taking this course Mr Putin has in one move avoided apportioning blame and helped calm Russian citizens in general and the people of Moscow in particular, who are understandably concerned.
The bombing, whether politically or criminally inspired, has been rightly and widely condemned and the sympathy of people everywhere goes out to the citizens of Moscow. The most important leader of Chechnya's separatists, Mr Aslan Maskhadov, has denied the involvement of his supporters. Unfortunately not all Chechen separatists are in Mr Maskhadov's camp and Chechen involvement cannot be ruled out. There are other people, members of armed groups, who owe no allegiance to Mr Maskhadov, who may have been involved. The forces of the warlord Shamil Basayev and the Arab field commander known only as Khattab have come under suspicion.
Even if the murderous event in Moscow had no connection with Chechnya, the time has come for efforts to bring about a political solution to the conflict in the Northern Caucasus. This will be a difficult task. Chechen politicians have proved to be fractious in the extreme. Those who favour rule from Moscow are as divided amongst themselves as are those committed to total independence. Clan groupings and family connections play a part that is as strong as if not stronger than political beliefs.
There are indications that the entry of Russian troops into Chechnya and the fierce bombardment of Grozny left Mr Maskhadov with little option but to join forces with warlords he would, under other circumstances, have opposed. Rumours have abounded in Moscow during the past week that secret talks with Mr Maskhadov, who was elected president by a majority of Chechens, have been taking place. At the very least Moscow could benefit by driving a wedge between him and the more extreme field commanders and warlords. The Kremlin would be better off with Mr Maskhadov on its side than as an enemy. In this context, it is to be hoped that Mr Putin's talk of "destroying the rebels in their lair," is mere rhetoric.