Church leaders ‘shocked and saddened’ by Moscow attack
The heinous terror attack that killed more than 130 people on Friday night left Christians shocked and heartbroken.
The Archbishop of Canterbury expressed his sorrow in relation to the barbaric attack at Crocus City Hall that left the Russian people shaken. More than 140 people were also injured when gunmen entered the Crocus City Hall, shooting people before setting it on fire. All four terrorists have been arrested, three of them have pleaded guilty in a Russian court. The suspects, identified as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, 32; Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, 30; Shamsidin Fariduni, 25; and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, 19, were formally charged with committing a group terrorist attack resulting in deaths on Sunday 24 March in Moscow’s Basmanny District Court.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby stated: “We are praying for the families of those who have lost loved ones those who seek to bring comfort, healing and hope to those in need”.
Russia’s Catholic bishop, Paolo Pezzi, who is the head of the Mother of God Archdiocese, also denounced the attack and urged Russians to “exercise due care and discretion” for their “personal and public safety. Our hearts are filled with horror and pain. But we should not forget our lives are in God’s hands. Trusting in him, I ask you to pray for the salvation of all whose lives are still in danger, peace for the dead, help and healing for the injured, and courage and patience for all called to help them.”
