The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned a shooting incident that occurred at a school in the city of Tacloban in the friendly Republic of the Philippines, which resulted in the killing and wounding of a number of people.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a communiqué that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts, and reaffirms its categorical rejection of all forms of violence and extremism aimed at undermining security and stability.
The ministry also extended its sincere condolences and sympathies to the families and relatives of the victims, to the government of the Republic of the Philippines and its friendly people, and expressed its wishes for a speedy recovery for all those injured.
Philippine police reported that 3 students were killed and 7 others wounded after 2 students opened fire inside a secondary school in the centre of the country on Monday. Regional police commander Brigadier General Jason Cagboy said the two suspects, aged 14 and 15, were each carrying a pistol and have been apprehended.
He added that the suspects and the victims are all students at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, where the shooting took place mid-morning. An investigation is under way to determine the reasons behind the shooting at the government school, which has more than 1,500 students.
Cagboy said the two suspects, who are close friends, stated during initial questioning that they had been subjected to bullying inside the school. The suspects have no criminal record, and it was not immediately clear how they obtained the two pistols used in the attack.
Cagboy explained that they were able to bring the pistols onto the school campus because there was only one guard responsible for securing several entrances and exits to the campus. He said the two suspects stormed two classrooms, with students fleeing after the first shots were fired.