'Poland condemns terrorism' says foreign minister in wake of shooting in Russia
The Polish foreign minister has said "Poland condemns terrorism in any form," in reaction to an apparent mass shooting at a Russian concert hall.
Russian media reported on Friday that a hall had been attacked in the city of Krasnogorsk, north-west of the capital.
At least 90 people have reportedly been killed and more than 100 injured in the attack. Social media carried video footage of a number of armed men entering the hall and opening fire on people.
State-owned news agency Ria Novosti said an exchange of automatic gunfire had been heard at the scene and that a fire had broken out at the premises. There were also reports of a further explosion. Local media reported on Friday evening special forces had started storming the building.
Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister, told private news channel TVN24: "Of course, Poland condemns terrorism in any form."
Sikorski was asked about the attack's consequences in light of a declaration by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov that Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine had become a war and that the "collective West" had become "a participant in it on Ukraine's side."
"I don't think it's worth speculating because we still have too little data," Sikorski replied. "Concerning Mr Peskov's announcement that it is a war - he's realised that after two years - it only arouses in me the following reflection: in that case, will the Russian authorities release people from prison who have already said it is a war, not a military operation?"
To date, Moscow has always referred to the war in Ukraine as a "special military operation."
Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, later took to the X platform to say he was being kept appraised of the situation.
"The heads of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior and the coordinator of security services are informing me in on ongoing way on the circumstances of the attack in Moscow and the possible consequences for the situation in the region and the security of the country," Tusk tweeted.
Later on Friday, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, deputy prime minister and defence minister wrote on X that "the situation is being analysed in terms of its possible impact on Poland's security."
Jacek Siewiera, the head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), announced on Friday night that President Andrzej Duda was being kept informed about the course of events in the Russian Federation and its possible consequences for the security of Polish citizens.
The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack, Reuters reported, citing the Telegram channel of this terrorist organisation. (PAP)
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