Türkiye condemns terrorist attack on Moscow concert hall
Foreign Ministry headquarters in the capital Ankara in this undated file photo. (AA File Photo)


Türkiye strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a concert hall in Russia's capital Moscow on Friday, which killed at least 133 people.

In a statement released Friday, the Foreign Ministry said Ankara strongly condemns the appalling attack, which targeted innocent civilians.

It also said Türkiye extends its deepest condolences to the Russian people and government.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Ankara condemns the "heinous terrorist attack" in Moscow, and extends condolences to the Russian people and the government.

On Saturday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan strongly condemned the attack, saying that Türkiye shares the pain of the Russian people.

"We express our condolences to the Russian government for the terrorist attack on a concert hall in Moscow, and we strongly condemn the attack," Erdoğan said in a meeting in the Turkish capital Ankara.

"As a country that knows the bloody and treacherous face of terrorism very well, Türkiye shares the pain of the Russian people," Erdoğan said.

Terrorism is "unacceptable" no matter where it comes from or who the perpetrator is, he added.

Gunmen opened fire at concertgoers late Friday, killing at least 133 people and injuring scores of others. The attack occurred as the rock band Picnic was about to perform at the Crocus City Hall just west of Moscow.​​​​​​​

Russian authorities have arrested 11 people in connection with the attack, including four directly involved, according to the Federal Security Service.​​​​​​​