European nations, EU convey condolences after Moscow concert hall shooting

By Nur Asena Erturk and Talha Ozturk

ANKARA (AA) — The foreign ministries of several European countries expressed their condolences to the families of those killed or injured in a shooting and blast targeting a concert hall in Russia's Moscow region Friday.

Gunmen killed 40 people and injured over 100 others in a shooting at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced earlier.

"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.

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

An explosion was also later reported at the venue, causing a large fire. The country's Emergency Ministry said that about a third of the building was engulfed in flames, with several helicopters working to extinguish the blaze.