Trump, Sadiq in Twitter spat after London attacks

Don says London mayor downplaying threat of terrorism

Donald Trump lashed out on Sunday at London’s mayor Sadiq Khan accusing him of downplaying the threat of terrorism a day after knife-wielding men mowed down and stabbed revellers in the British capital.

London’s mayor swiftly shot down the US President’s remarks, made in a series of overnight tweets, as critics accused Mr Trump of exploiting a terror attack for political gain — and not for the first time.

A spokesman said that Mr Khan “has more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet.”

Mr Trump poured scorn on Mr Khan’s attempt to reassure the public after three assailants smashed a van into pedestrians on London Bridge then attacked revelers with knives.

“At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and the mayor of London said that there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!’” the US President said in one tweet.

Mr Trump said that the attack showed it was time to “stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people,” after tweeting the night before — as the scenes of panic in London were still unfolding — that it underscored the need for his contested “travel ban” on several Muslim-majority nations.

Mr Khan, in an interview with BBC just hours after the attack, had said, “My message to Londoners and visitors to our great city is to be calm and vigilant today. You will see an increased police presence today, including armed officers and uniformed officers. There is no reason to be alarmed by this.”

Responding on Sunday to Mr Trump’s criticism, a Khan spokesman issued a pointed statement saying that the mayor — busy coordinating a response to the attack even while reassuring Londoners and visitors — had “more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks.”