A Tajik man fatally shot two officers at Moldova’s airport after he was denied entry, officers say

CHISINAU, Moldova — A Tajikistan nationwide who was denied entry into Moldova at its foremost worldwide airport grabbed a guard’s weapon and fatally shot two safety officers Friday, officers mentioned. One traveler additionally was wounded.

The suspect was being escorted by officers at Chisinau International Airport when he “took the gun of a border guard” and opened hearth, authorities mentioned. Special forces then intervened, subdued the person and handcuffed him, leaving him significantly injured. All passengers had been evacuated from the airport.

Moldova‘s Prime Minister Dorin Recean mentioned in an announcement that the suspect was from Tajikistan. He mentioned a wounded passenger was being handled by docs.

Moldova’s performing Prosecutor General Ion Munteanu informed journalists late Friday that the suspect had arrived from Istanbul, Turkey. He mentioned the Tajik nationwide was being handled in hospital for “serious injuries” sustained whereas being detained, and that he was beneath police supervision.

Prosecutors are investigating the incident as a doable terrorist assault, Munteanu added.

Moldova‘s President Maia Sandu mentioned that the 2 individuals killed had been a border police officer and an airport safety worker.

“We send our sincere condolences to the bereaved families and relatives, the loss of loved ones is a great pain for the families,” Sandu wrote in an announcement on Facebook. “It’s a sad day for all of us.”

State establishments have been placed on excessive alert, Sandu mentioned, and that “police and law enforcement agencies are mobilized throughout the Republic of Moldova” in response to the incident.

Moldova’s Ministry of Internal Affairs mentioned in a separate assertion that the victims “lost their lives while performing their duties” and that authorities “took care to protect the civilians who were in the danger zone.”

“The aggressor will be held accountable by law enforcement agencies that opened a criminal investigation file on the case,” the ministry mentioned, including that an investigation is being launched by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, neighboring Moldova – a rustic with a inhabitants of about 2.6 million individuals, and a European Union candidate since June 2022 – has confronted an extended checklist of crises.

These embody an acute winter power disaster after Russia dramatically lowered fuel provides and recurring anti-government protests organized by a Russia-friendly political occasion towards the ruling pro-Western administration.

Moldova’s leaders have additionally repeatedly accused Moscow of conducting campaigns to attempt to destabilize the nation, which was a Soviet republic till 1991.