The United Arab Emirates has condemned a deadly school shooting in South Cotabato province in the Philippines and expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the Filipino people.
In an official statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the shooting resulted in deaths and injuries.
The ministry reiterated the UAE’s rejection of violence and extremism and said acts that threaten security and stability are strongly condemned.
It also expressed sympathy to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The Emirates News Agency published the statement on 18 September, while the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the same official position through its own media channel.
Khaleej Times, citing provincial officials, reported that three students were killed, including a 16-year-old suspected gunman, and that 17 other students were injured. The report said some of the injured were in critical condition.
Those casualty details come from local officials quoted in secondary reporting and were not included in the UAE Foreign Ministry statement. GulfPulse is therefore distinguishing them from the confirmed content of the UAE diplomatic response.
The shooting occurred in Banga town in South Cotabato, according to the same reporting.
The UAE statement focused on condemnation and solidarity rather than on the investigation, motive or identity of the attacker.
No claim about motive was made by the UAE authorities in the statement reviewed by GulfPulse.
The incident has prompted condolences and concern in a country where large-scale school shootings are relatively uncommon compared with some other parts of the world.
For the UAE, the announcement is a foreign-policy response to a violent incident affecting the Philippines, a country with a large expatriate community in the Emirates.
Further details about the investigation, the condition of the injured and any criminal findings should be taken from Philippine authorities as they are formally confirmed.
GulfPulse will avoid treating early reports about motive or responsibility as established fact until supported by the relevant investigating authorities.
