The UN chief on Monday issued a statement expressing deep sadness at the death of 15 people, including 11 children, at a school in the Russian city of Izhevsk, following an attack by a lone gunman who killed himself at the scene. Two dozen people were wounded.
According to news reports, the gunman who was known to authorities and was a former pupil at the school Number 88, was wearing a Nazi swastika on his T-shirt during the attack, and Russian authorities are investigating the perpetrator’s suspected neo-Nazi links.
In a statement issued by his Deputy-Spokesperson, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, strongly condemned the “act of violence, and expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Government and people of the Russian Federation. He wishes those injured a speedy and full recovery.”
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News reports said that the attacker, who was in his early 30s, killed two security guards at the school then opened fire on students and teachers. All but two of those wounded were children. He had been armed with two pistols and a large supply of ammunition.
The school is located in western Russia, some 600 miles (965 kilometres) east of Moscow. Izvesk is the capital of the Udmurt Republic.
‘Make schools safe’
The head of UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, tweeted that she was deeply shocked by the shooting of children and their teachers at the school.
“I strongly condemn this horrendous attack. Deepest condolences to (the) families of victims and the Russian people. We need immediate action to stop this senseless violence, and make schools safe.”
UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) chief, Catherine Russell, tweeted later on Monday that “every child has the right to be safe in school, wherever they are and whatever their circumstances.”
The attacker had reportedly been registered with a local psychiatric facility.
There have been several school shootings in Russia in recent years including in the provincial capital of Kazan, in May 2021, when nine people were killed by a gunman – seven students and two employees – and last September, when six were killed and 47 injured, on a university campus, in the city of Perm.
In response to those incidents, the Russian Government reportedly tightened gun ownership laws.
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In regards to the tragic incident at the school in Izhevsk, my heart goes out to the families affected by this senseless act of violence. It’s truly devastating to see innocent lives lost in such a horrific manner. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones during this difficult time.
I am utterly saddened by the horrific incident at the school in Izhevsk. The fact that children were targeted in this attack is truly heartbreaking. My deepest condolences go out to the families affected by this tragedy. It is crucial that authorities investigate and address the root causes of such violence to prevent future atrocities.
It’s truly devastating to hear about such tragic events. My heart goes out to the families of the victims, and I hope the injured recover quickly. We must work together to prevent such senseless violence in the future.
How can such heinous acts of violence still occur in schools? When will stricter measures be taken to prevent such tragedies from happening again?
Acts of violence in schools are truly heartbreaking. It’s imperative that stricter measures are implemented to prevent such tragedies in the future.
It’s truly devastating to hear about such senseless violence in a school. My heart goes out to the innocent victims and their families. We must all come together to condemn such acts and work towards preventing them in the future.
How could such a tragic event happen in a school? What measures are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future?
Tragic events like this school shooting are deeply distressing. Security measures must be strengthened to ensure the safety of children and teachers. It’s crucial that authorities thoroughly investigate the motives behind such attacks to prevent future tragedies.
It’s devastating to hear about such a tragic incident at the school in Izhevsk. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones in this senseless act of violence. I hope the injured children and teachers recover swiftly from this horrific ordeal.
It’s truly devastating to hear about such senseless violence taking innocent lives, especially young children. My heart goes out to all those affected by this tragic event. It’s important for authorities to thoroughly investigate the motives behind this attack and take necessary measures to prevent such atrocities in the future.
It’s truly devastating to hear about the tragic school shooting in Russia. My heart goes out to the families of the victims and I hope for a full recovery for those injured. Such senseless violence should have no place in our society.