PM and French leader in pledge on terror
THERESA May and French President Emmanuel Macron last night pledged to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight against terrorism.
Meeting in Paris, the two offered condolences to victims of this year’s attacks in Westminster, Manchester and at London Bridge, three of whom were French.
They also paid tribute to those killed in France, including a Briton who died in the Bataclan attack in Paris in 2015.
Mr Macron told a press conference at his official Elysee Palace residence that the recent attacks in the UK had underlined how the terrorists were targeting “freedom, democracy and our youth”. Mrs May told her host: “I know you stand with us against this evil.” Later they went to watch the England vs France football friendly at the Stade de France.
French fans sang God Save The Queen in honour of the UK’s terror victims – just as Britons had sung the French anthem at Wembley in 2015 to honour the victims of the Paris outrages.
The Prime Minister said: “Our visit to the Stade de France tonight will be a similar show of solidarity against terrorism and extremism.”
Mrs May, who was accompanied by Home Secretary Amber Rudd, announced that she and Mr Macron had agreed a plan to tackle terrorism and extremism.
It included exploring the possibility of fining internet companies for failing to remove harmful content.
Mr Macron also emphasised his desire to see international cooperation, including with the US, on the issue.
Mr Macron embraced her warmly on her arrival in the sun-baked French capital.
His greeting was seen as less warm than the one he recently gave Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But he was chivalrous to his British guest at their garden press conference, bending to pick up her notes when a breeze blew them off her lectern.