Trump calls for expanded travel ban after London tube explosion

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump used the London explosion to call for an expanded travel ban, a lighter version of which currently prevents visitors from six Muslim-majority nations from entering the US.

In a series of tweets, he claimed that the perpetrators of the attack were known to the UK authorities, called for proactive measures to tackle terrorists, and suggested an expanded travel ban would fit the bill.

The UK, one of America’s closest allies in intelligence sharing, pushed back against the suggestion the Scotland Yard was watching the perpetrators and called it speculation.

“I never think it’s helpful for anybody to speculate on what is an ongoing investigation,” Prime Minister Theresa May said.

As a presidential candidate, Trump had proposed a blanket ban on all Muslims from entering the US after the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack.

Among his first actions after taking office in January was to order a ban on all citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the US for 90 days and all refugees for 180 days, later struck down by the courts.

The Trump administration later came up with an order that was narrower in scope and impact.

A lighter version of this executive order went into effect earlier that exempted relatives of those from these countries residing in the US.