World leaders condemn deadly terror attack by gunmen at concert hall near Moscow
Residents lay flowers and mourn victims of the March 22 terror attack, outside the Crocus City Hall concert venue, near Moscow, Russia, on March 24, 2024. (REN QI / CHINA DAILY)
President Xi Jinping extended condolences on March 23 to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the terrorist attack that caused heavy casualties on March 22 near Moscow.
In his message, Xi said he was shocked to learn that the serious terrorist attack had occurred at a concert hall in Russia’s Moscow Oblast.
Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, expressed his deep condolences for the victims, and extended his sincere sympathy to the injured and the bereaved families.
He emphasized that China opposes all forms of terrorism, strongly condemns terrorist attacks, and firmly supports the Russian government’s efforts to maintain national security and stability.
The attack by gunmen on March 22 at the Crocus City Hall northwest of Moscow claimed the lives of at least 139 people and injured 360 more, Russian authorities said.
Anastasia Rodionova, a survivor of the attack, told China Daily on March 23 that the assailants were “gunning down everyone methodically in silence” inside the venue.
“We went down to some kind of ground floor, some dark room, and I saw only ‘exit’ shining in the darkness, and we just did not know whether to run or not. Who is there in the dark? What is there in the dark?” she said after she laid flowers at the Crocus City Hall on March 23.
“China is deeply shocked by the heavy casualties inflicted by the severe terrorist attack,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in an online statement, expressing deep condolences for the victims and sincere sympathy to the injured and bereaved.
“China opposes all forms of terrorism, strongly condemns terrorist attacks, and firmly supports Russia in safeguarding its national security and stability,” the statement added.
A member of the Investigative Committee of Russia works on March 24, 2024 at the scene of the attack. (PHOTO / REUTERS)
According to Russian state media Tass, four suspects were detained in the Bryansk region and taken to Moscow.
One suspect said he was promised a reward of 500,000 roubles ($5,400), according to a video posted on RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan’s Telegram channel on March 23.
Leaders around the world expressed their condolences and condemned the terror attack.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, saying on March 23 at a news conference at El Arish International Airport in Egypt that Islamic State is a significant global threat.
Putin linked the attack, which he called “barbaric”, to Ukraine in a video statement on March 23, and declared March 24 a national day of mourning.
On Ukrainian national TV on March 23, Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, firmly denied that his country had anything to do with the attack.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington condemns “terrorism in all its forms”. “We ... stand in solidarity with the people of Russia in grieving the loss of life from this horrific event,” Blinken said in a statement on March 23.
Earlier, the White House had called the attack “terrible” and offered condolences.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on social media platform X that she “strongly condemns” the attack.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “Regardless of the origin of the suspects, terror cannot be accepted.”
Among others, the leaders of France, Poland, Britain, and Germany also denounced the attack.
Agencies contributed to this story.
