NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 23 — Kenya has joined the rest of the world in mourning the death of concertgoers following Friday night attack in Russia’s Capital, Moscow, that left at least 60 dead and scores injured.
The assault which occurred when gunmen stormed the Сroсus City Hall venue, left at least 100 wounded according to the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s internal security and counterintelligence service.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, condemned the attack as “horrendous and senseless,” calling for a united front in combating terrorism.
“We condemn this horrendous and senseless attack on civilians and urge greater international cooperation and coordination in the fight against terrorism,” he said Saturday.
Kenya has also been a victim of a similar terrorist attack when masked gunmen attacked the Westgate Shopping Mall, on September 21, 2013, which was carried out by the Somalia-based Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist outfit Al-Shabaab.
Korir noted that a “fragmented and unravelling global order only aids the machinations of perpetrators of terror.”
The Islamic State, a transnational Salafi jihadist has since claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack according to the BBC, but Russia has yet to comment on the attack.
The United States had warned Russian authorities earlier in March about the possibility of an attack in Moscow.
US alert
On March 7, the US Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert warning its citizens to “avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.”
“The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours,” read the notice which advised its citizens to “avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates and aware of your surroundings.”
Other foreign missions had also advised its citizens to exercise vigilance over the threat.
The attack comes at a time when Russia is engaged in a full-scale war with Ukraine.
While some quarters pointed fingers at Kyiv as being behind the attack, Ukraine has distanced itself from the attack.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly shut down the claims saying “Ukraine certainly has nothing to do with the shooting/explosions in the Crocus City Hall (Moscow Region, Russia).”
“It makes no sense whatsoever,” he added.
Podolyak reiterated that everything in its war with Russia “will be decided only on the battlefield.”
