UN chief condemns Moscow concert hall shooting 'in strongest terms'

By Serife Cetin

NEW YORK (AA) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned "in the strongest possible terms" a deadly attack targeting a concert hall northeast of central Moscow in Russia.

"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," UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement

Haq added that 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 that about a 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 its sorrow over the deadly attack.

Russia had criticized the organization over its earlier statement, saying the UN should be "appalled" not "saddened" over the attack.

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul