New Zealand attacker has nothing to with Serbia: FM

BELGRADE -- The terrorist attack in New Zealand is unrelated to Serbia, Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said at a press conference on Friday, commenting on alleged presence of Serbian nationalist music and symbols in the live video of the attack.

The foreign minister said his country sees reports that allege such connections as abuses.

He said that Serbia strongly condemned the terrorist attack that killed 49 people in the city of Christchurch in New Zealand and wounded dozens of others, and pointed out that the attacker, regardless of the various reports, had nothing to do with Serbia, Serbian public broadcaster RTS reported.

"I condemn these types of abuses, the man (attacker) has nothing to do with Serbia, I do not know who can be his inspiration, but I saw names of other countries on that list too," he said.

Media reported that the weapon of one of the attackers had Cyrillic letters inscribed on his weapon, reading the names of Serbian historic national heroes such as Milos Obilic and Bajo Pivljanin, while others claimed that Serbian nationalist music was heard in the live video.

"Serbia has nothing to do with it, we do not ask anyone to revenge any Serbian victim in the world. We condemn this type of abuse, which is detrimental to Serbian interests and we will arrest anyone suspected of having this kind of interest," Dacic said.

Dacic expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and wounded in the attacks, adding that the result is the result of a "global evil" of terrorism, against which countries can fight only jointly, and with a non-selective approach.