Shoukry affirms Egypt’s solidarity with Russia in phone call with Lavrov after deadly Moscow shooting

CAIRO – 23 March 2024: Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has expressed Egypt's unwavering support for Russia in response to a terrorist attack that occurred on Friday at a concert hall complex in Moscow, resulting in numerous casualties.

In a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday, Shoukry reiterated Egypt's firm condemnation and complete rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism.

Shoukry extended his condolences, on behalf of himself and the Egyptian nation, to Russia for the tragic incident.

A group of gunmen unleashed gunfire on concertgoers at Moscow's Crocus Concert Hall, claiming the lives of over 130 individuals and leaving many injured.

This attack stands as Russia's deadliest in the past decade.

The ISIS terror group claimed responsibility for the assault in a brief statement released via its affiliated news agency, Amaq, on Telegram, on Friday.

Russia has reported the arrest of 11 individuals in connection with the attack, including four suspected to be the main perpetrators.

In a televised speech today, Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the shooting as a "barbaric terrorist attack" and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He also alleged that they were attempting to flee to Ukraine through a “window prepared for them on the Ukrainian side.” However, Kyiv has denied any involvement in the incident.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the incident in a statement on Friday.