Photo: Mariano Matel via Flickr (CC-BY NC-2.0)

Press Release No: 17/11
4 April 2017
Brussels

A bombing in the St Petersburg (Russia) metro system has left a reported 14 people dead and wounded dozens more. The attack disrupted the midday peace in one of the busiest university and commercial areas of the city of nearly 5 million. At this time the motive remains unclear and no group has claimed responsibility.

The Conference of European Churches, together with the churches in Europe and all people of goodwill, grieve this loss of life and condemn this attempt to incite fear. We pray for those who have lost their lives, and for all those touched by this distressing and sorrowful event. The Conference of European Churches extends its condolences and prayers to its Member Churches in Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia, and the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia.

“Once again, a major European city is targeted by the same mania of violence as so many places around the world, and the agony of hatred and destruction is felt by all of us,” remarked CEC General Secretary Fr Heikki Huttunen. “As we prepare to celebrate the mysteries of the suffering and the resurrection of Our Saviour we are reinforced in our hope and in our efforts to join hands with all people of goodwill to build peace, trust and sharing in our neighbourhoods, our cities and countries and indeed in our world.”

Along with the victims in Russia, we remember and pray for those other places throughout the world that have also recently been affected by deadly acts of violence including Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and India.

Erin Green
Communication Coordinator
Conference of European Churches
Rue Joseph II, 174 B-1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 234 68 42
Fax +32 2 231 14 13
E-mail: eeg@cec-kek.be
Website: www.ceceurope.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ceceurope
Twitter: @ceceurope

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of 115 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 National Councils of Churches and Organisations in Partnership. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Brussels and Strasbourg.