‘A direct and brutal attack on young people everywhere’
PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull branded the latest terror attack “especially vile” because it targeted teenagers.
“Surely there is no crime more reprehensible than the murder of children,” Mr Turnbull said. “This is a direct and brutal attack on young people everywhere, on freedom everywhere. It is a basic human right to be able to go out into public places and into public spaces, to shop, to go to a concert, to do our business, to take our exercise. We have seen too many crimes perpetrated by acts of violence and terrorism in places of mass gathering, not to realise that we need to do more to keep our public places safe. It is a very, very high priority. Once again, Australia stands with Britain in resolute solidarity.”
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had spoken to the Australian High Commissioner in Britain, Alexander Downer, and said there was no information that any Australians were injured.
Labor leader Bill Shorten said: “This is not the normal course of events and we will never accept it as the normal state of affairs.”