Gunmen attacked a concert hall in Moscow killing at least 133 people and injuring more than 100 others, according to Russian authorities.
The attackers dressed in camouflage uniforms entered the Crocus City venue before the start of a rock concert on Friday, opened fire on the audience and threw flammable liquid, according to a journalist for the RIA Novosti news agency at the scene.
The militant Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the assault.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission, said on X, formerly Twitter, that he was "shocked to learn of the horrific terror attack in Moscow," and expressed solidarity with the Russian people and government "following this heinous attack."
In a televised address to the nations, President Vladimir Putin said 11-people, including the four gun men had been arrested. Describing the attack as "international terrorism," Putin said justice everyone involved will be punished.
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks on the phone in Moscow on March 23, 2024, the day after a gun attack on the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk.
"All the perpetrators, organizers and those who ordered this crime will be justly and inevitably punished. Whoever they are, whoever is guiding them," Putin said. "We will identify and punish everyone who stands behind the terrorists, who prepared this atrocity, this strike against Russia, against our people."
Ukraine, which Moscow had accused of being behind the incident, had "nothing to do" with the attack, presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said on Telegram.
The main intelligence directorate of the Ukrainian defense ministry said "the terrorist attack in Moscow was a planned and deliberate provocation by the Russian special services on Putin's orders," alleging that the aim was to "further escalate and expand the war" with Ukraine.
Kyiv has been facing a Russian military offensive for the past two years.
The White House sent its condolences to the victims of the "terrible" attack, saying it was trying to get more information.
"Our thoughts are with the victims of this terrible shooting attack," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. "The images are just horrible and just hard to watch."
Washington also said that the United States had warned Russian authorities earlier this month about a "planned terrorist attack" possibly targeting "large gatherings" in Moscow.
Chinese President Xi Jinping "strongly condemned" the attack and sent his condolences to Putin, state media reported.
Xi "stressed that China opposes all form of terrorism, strongly condemns the terrorist attack and firmly supports the Russian government's efforts to safeguard its national security and stability," Xinhua news agency said.
Britain's foreign minister David Cameron said that the U.K. condemned "in the strongest terms the deadly terrorist attack."
People pay their respects after laying flowers outside the Russian embassy in London on March 23, 2024, a day after a gun attack in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow.
"We offer our heartfelt condolences and express our deepest sympathy to the families of the many victims," he added.
In France, the Elysee Palace quotes President Emmanuel Macron saying he "strongly condemns the terrorist attack claimed by the Islamic State."
"France expresses its solidarity with the victims, their loved ones and all the Russian people," the palace said.
Israel, for its part, said it was saddened by Friday's "tragic events in Moscow. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims and to all those affected," Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz posted on X.
The presidency of the Palestinian Authority condemned the attack and "affirmed its solidarity and support for the Russian leadership and the Russian people, emphasizing its keenness on stability in the friendly Russian Federation," according to the official Wafa news agency.
The United Nations
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms," spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement.
Guterres "conveys his deep condolences to the bereaved families and the people and the Government of the Russian Federation," he added, referring to Russia by its official name.
The U.N. Security Council also offered its condolences and urged all states "to cooperate actively" with the Russian government and other authorities to hold perpetrators and backers of "these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice."
The European Union
The European Union said it was "shocked and appalled" by the Moscow attack. "The EU condemns any attacks against civilians. Our thoughts are with all those Russian citizens affected," an EU spokesman, whom AFP did not name, said.
Some information in this report came from AFP