Int'l anti-xenophobia conference in Moscow starts with moment of silence for Pittsburgh synagogue massacre victims
MOSCOW. Oct 29 (Interfax) - Participants in an international conference against anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia in Moscow observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue in the United States.
"All of us are shocked by the recent bloody anti-Semite tragedy in Pittsburgh. We would like to express condolences to the families of the dead and injured," Russian Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko said before opening the conference on Monday.
Russian Jewish Congress President Yury Kanner said the tragedy shows how relevant the conference is.
It had been reported earlier that a man identified as Robert Bowers, 46, opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11 people and injuring 12 others.