By Ncaba Ntshakala
The Government of Eswatini has sent its heartfelt condolences to the Russian Federation. Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, Queen Mother, Government, and People of the Kingdom of Eswatini, expressed profound sorrow over the loss of more than 130 lives and the injury of approximately 100 others.
“I have it in command by His Majesty King Mswati III, to extend our deepest condolences on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, the Government and People of the Kingdom of Eswatini, to the Government and People of the Russian Federation on the loss of more than 130 lives and the injury of about 100 others in a concert in Moscow,” stated the Prime Minister.
The Government of Eswatini conveyed prayers for the families and friends of the deceased, hoping that they find solace and strength in this time of immense grief.
Additionally, they expressed wishes for the swift recovery of all those who sustained injuries in the tragic event.
This expression of sympathy comes in the face of a horrifying incident where innocent civilians became victims of a senseless act of violence.
The statement issued by the Government of Eswatini expressed the need for global unity in combating terrorism, urging for strengthened international collaboration to address such atrocities.
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“While our Government stands in solidarity with the Government and the People of the Russian Federation, we call for stronger international collaboration to fight against terrorism and to find lasting solutions to these senseless killings of innocent civilians by organizations who claim martyrdom in such brutal acts of terror,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
On Friday evening, Russia was left reeling in the wake of the nation’s worst terrorist attack in decades. Nearly a dozen people have been detained in connection with the massacre, which saw armed assailants storm a popular concert venue complex on the outskirts of the capital, killing more than 130 people.
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Reports say that attackers armed with guns and incendiary devices opened fire at random at the Crocus City complex which is home to both a popular music hall and shopping center.
Crowds were still filing in but the auditorium was already packed with people ahead of a concert by the band Picnic. Some 6,500 tickets had reportedly been sold for the show. But instead of a night dancing away to rock music, sheer chaos unfolded.
According to some media reports, panicked eyewitnesses captured on video the exact moment gunmen, dressed in camouflage fatigues and carrying automatic weapons, started shooting indiscriminately.
The footage showed concertgoers screaming and ducking for cover behind cushioned seats while others huddled together as shots echoed through the vast hall.
It is alleged that during the rampage, one group sheltering next to a large wall of windows outside the concert venue were forced to break them to escape the gunfire. An unnamed male witness who survived the attack said the gunmen entered the concert hall and “started shooting everyone.”
