Dmitry Medvedev spoke out on January 25, a day after a bomber detonated an estimated 7kg (15lb) of TNT at Domodedovo airport, killing 35 people and injuring 110.

He blamed airport officials for "clear security breaches", and called for sackings if negligence was proved.

Militant groups from the North Caucasus are suspected of planning the attack.

Speaking to security officers in televised remarks, Mr Medvedev said terrorism was the most serious threat facing Russia today.

He called for those responsible to be hunted down and their organisations "eliminated".

The airport's reliance on human intelligence and intuition as much as technology has sometimes attracted complaints of discrimination. However it boasts that no flight from here has ever been hijacked.

Preventing attacks on planes rather than airport buildings remains the main focus.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also took a hard line, saying that "retribution is inevitable".

"This was an abominable crime in both its senselessness and its cruelty," he said, offering government help to the families of those affected.