Smoke rises above the burning Crocus City Hall concert venue following a reported shooting incident, outside Moscow, Russia, March 22, 2024. (Moscow News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday condemned the attack at a Moscow concert hall on Friday, which killed more than 60 people and wounded over 100.
“The Philippines strongly condemns the heinous attack at the Crocus Hall in Moscow on March 22, 2024, which resulted in the loss of innocent lives, caused injuries to several people, and significantly damaged properties,” the DFA said in a statement.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured people speedy recovery,” the DFA added.
The DFA also said no Filipinos were affected in the attack and advised the Filipino community in Moscow to exercise caution.
“The Philippine Embassy in Moscow reported that there are no Filipinos affected in the attack and has advised the Filipino community in Moscow to undertake the necessary precautions following the attack,” the DFA said.
READ: DMW says no Filipino harmed in Moscow concert hall attack
Attackers dressed in camouflage uniforms entered the building on Friday, opened fire and threw a grenade or incendiary bomb, according to a journalist for the RIA Novosti news agency at the scene.
Fire quickly spread through the Crocus City concert hall in Moscow’s northern Krasnogorsk suburb, as smoke filled the building and screaming visitors rushed to emergency exits.
Authorities said a “terrorist” investigation had been started and President Vladimir Putin was receiving “constant” updates, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies.
Moscow and other Russian cities have been the targets of previous attacks by Islamist groups, but there have also been incidents without any clear political motive.
Earlier this month, the US embassy in Russia said it was monitoring reports that “extremists” were planning “to target large gatherings in Moscow,” including concerts.
The White House said Friday that the United States warned Russian authorities earlier in March about a “planned terrorist attack” possibly targeting “large gatherings” in Moscow.
Washington had “shared this information with Russian authorities,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.
In 2002, Chechen separatist fighters took 912 people hostage in a Moscow theatre, the Dubrovka, demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region.
Special forces attacked the theatre to end the hostage-taking, and 130 people were killed, nearly all suffocated by a gas used by security forces to knock out the gunmen.