BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – His Majesty King Mswati III calls for international collaboration in the fight against terrorism.
The King called for the collaboration this past Sunday when sending condolences to the Russian Federation, following the loss over 130 lives in Moscow, Russia’s capital. The King sent his condolences through Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini. Dlamini did this on behalf of the King, the Indlovukazi, the Eswatini Government and the entire Eswatini nation.
The King said while Eswatini stood with Russia during this difficult moment, it was important for the countries in the world to address terrorism once and for all. “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 finding lasting solutions to these senseless killings of innocent civilians by organizations who claim martyrdom in such brutal acts of terror,” said the King.
The King further prayed for the deceased’s families and friends and hoped the Almighty God would comfort them during this moment of great loss. “We further pray for the swift recovery of all of those who have been wounded,” said the King.
According to Wikipedia, the Crocus City Hall attack was a terrorist attack on March 22, 2024, at the Crocus City Hall music venue in Krasnogorsk, Russia, on the western edge of Moscow.
The attack began at around 20:00 MSK (UTC+3), shortly before the Russian band Picnic was scheduled to play a sold-out show at the venue. Four gunmen carried out a mass shooting, as well as slashing attacks on the people gathered at the venue and used incendiary devices to set the venue on fire. Investigators said the attack had killed at least 139 people, and more than 182 concertgoers were injured by gunshot wounds and “poisoning” related to the fire.
The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS–KP), an Afghanistan-based regional affiliate of the Islamic State, claimed responsibility in a statement through the IS-affiliated Amaq News Agency shortly after the attack. Amaq also published a video of the attack, filmed by one of the attackers. It showed the attackers shooting victims and slitting the throat of a victim, while the filming attacker was reciting the takbir, praising Allah and speaking against infidels.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin called the attack a “barbaric terrorist act” and said that the gunmen had been arrested. He also declared 24 March to be a national day of mourning. Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the incident a terrorist attack. It is the deadliest terrorist attack on Russian soil since the Beslan School Siege in 2004.
Investigators detained 11 people in relation to the attack, including four suspects, who were charged with terrorism on 24 March.
(Featured image sourced from Al Jazeera News)
