UN chief condemns Moscow concert hall shooting ‘in strongest terms’

He said Guterres expressed his “deep condolences” to Russia and wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the attack. (U.S. Mission File Photo by Eric Bridiers/Wikimedia commons, Public Domain)

NEW YORK – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned “in the strongest possible terms” a deadly attack Friday at a concert hall northeast of central Moscow.

“The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s terrorist attack at a concert hall outside Moscow, in which at least 40 people were reportedly killed and over 100 others injured,” deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement.

He said Guterres expressed his “deep condolences” to Russia and wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the attack.

The attack took place in Krasnogorsk, the administrative center of the Moscow region, where the music band Picnic was performing at Crocus City Hall, according to preliminary information.

An explosion at the venue later caused a large fire. Russia’s Emergency Ministry said about one-third of the building was engulfed in flames, with several helicopters working to extinguish the blaze.

The fate of the shooters remains unknown, with reports claiming they managed to flee the scene.

Guterres’ statement comes after earlier remarks in which the UN expressed sorrow for the deadly attack.

Russia had criticized the organization for an earlier statement, saying the UN should be “appalled” not “saddened” by the attack.

Terrorism ‘one of the most serious threats”

The Security Council also condemned “the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack.”

“This reprehensible act of terrorism resulted in the grievous loss of dozens of lives,” Council members said in a statement, expressing their “deepest” sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and the Russian people.

Council members reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes “one of the most serious threats” to international peace and security and underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.

They urged all states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Council resolutions, to actively cooperate with Russia as well as all other relevant authorities.

Condolences

The foreign ministries of several European countries expressed their condolences to the families of those killed and injured.

“The images of the terrible attack on innocent people in Crocus City Hall near #Moscow are horrific. The background must be investigated quickly. Our deepest condolences with the families of the victims,” Germany’s Foreign Ministry said on X.

The French ministry, for its part, described the images as horrific and said, also on X, that “our thoughts go to the victims and injured, and the Russian people.

All the light must be shed on those heinous acts.”

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X that the ministry’s crisis unit was monitoring the situation following the attack.

He also condemned “all forms of terrorism” and voiced solidarity with the victims’ families.

The Slovenian Foreign Ministry noted that there was “no excuse for killing innocent civilians.”

“Today’s atrocious attack in Crocus City Hall near #Moscow is a criminal act; it’s background must be investigated quickly,” the ministry stressed as it also expressed its “deepest condolences.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also expressed his condolences in the wake of the attack, which he said would have major unforeseeable consequences.

“First of all, I want to express my sincere condolences to the citizens of the Russian Federation, to the leadership of Russia, in the hope that the terrorists who committed such a terrible atrocity will be brought to justice, that is, arrested or liquidated,” Vucic said on broadcaster TV Prva.

EU spokesperson Peter Stano said on X that the bloc was “shocked and appalled by the reports of a terrorist attack” in Moscow.

“The EU condemns any attacks against civilians.

Our thoughts are with all those Russian citizens affected,” he added.Spain also condemned “any form of violence,” saying: “We are dismayed by the news coming from Russia.”

“Our solidarity is with the victims, their families, and the Russian people,” the country’s Foreign Ministry said on X. (Anadolu)