A bomb was detonated on a trolley bus this morning in Volgograd, Russia, the second such attack in Russia in two days, raising fears about security for the '14 Sochi Games, which begin in 38 days. NBC’s Jim Maceda led the “Today” show with the report and noted Sochi is "some 400 miles from Volgograd." Maceda: "Olympic officials are confident those games will be safe but some Russian analysts are worried" (“Today,” NBC, 12/30).
ABC’s Brian Ross said the attacks "show just how difficult it will be to defend the Olympics against a determined and ruthless set of terrorists” (“GMA,” ABC, 12/30). CBS’ Elizabeth Palmer said the perpetrators "may not be able to actually stop the Games from going forward, but they can certainly drive up the cost to Russia primarily with massive security bills and, of course, drive ticket sales way down" (“CBS This Morning," 12/30). The N.Y. TIMES' Steven Lee Myers writes never before has "an Olympic host country experienced terrorist violence on this scale in the run-up to the Games" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/30).
