Chisinau International Airport in Moldova witnessed a horrifying incident as a man opened fire, resulting in the deaths of two individuals, according to the Moldovan Interior Ministry. The shooter, a foreign citizen, was wounded during the incident and has since been detained by the police.
The shooting occurred after the individual was denied entry to the country, as reported by the interior ministry. President Maia Sandu confirmed that a border guard and an airport security official were among the victims.
Though unconfirmed, there are reports suggesting that the suspect may be a Russian national who had taken hostages and barricaded himself in a room. Videos from the scene showed passengers gathered outside the airport on the grass while the building was being evacuated.
Following the incident, all flights to and from Chisinau airport, the largest airport in Moldova, have been grounded. Moldova has been on high alert for several months after President Sandu accused Russia of plotting to use foreign “saboteurs” to overthrow her pro-European Union government.
Moldova, with a population of 2.6 million people, became a candidate for EU membership last summer. The country has been significantly affected by the war in neighboring Ukraine and faces ongoing tensions with its pro-Moscow breakaway region of Transnistria, where around 1,500 Russian soldiers are stationed.
President Sandu expressed her condolences to the families of the victims, referring to it as “a sad day for all of us.” She announced that state security forces have been placed on high alert throughout the country in response to the incident.
