Raeisi calls for punishing perpetrators of Moscow attack

In a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Iranian president strongly condemned the terrorist incident in concert hall in Moscow.

Raeisi supported the efforts of the Russian authorities to maintain the country's national security and also called for serious action by the international community to punish the designers and perpetrators of this incident.

Earlier on Friday night, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian strongly condemned the terrorist attack near the Russian capital Moscow, and called for global efforts to fight terrorism.

“I strongly condemn the recent terrorist attack in Moscow, expressing sympathy with the families of the victims. I offer condolences to my colleague Sergei Lavrov, and the Russian people and government over the bitter incident”, Amir-Abdollahian wrote.

He added that “the joint and effective fight against terrorism requires serious action by the international community without any discrimination.”

The Russian FSB service reported on Friday evening that the shooting and fire occurred at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow. According to the preliminary data, there are at least 60 dead, including 3 children, and over 110 injured.

The Russian Investigative Committee announced that 93 people had been killed early on Saturday morning. 107 people are believed to have been hospitalised, with many of them in what Russian media has described as a serious condition. The ministry of health has said five children are among those in hospital.

World leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressed condolence and slammed terrorism in any form.