Egypt strongly condemns Manchester attacks: FM

“Terrorist attack pushes for non indulgent measures on international level,” says Foreign Ministry spokesperson

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the Monday attack on a pop concert in Manchester Arena, killing at least 22 and injuring over 50 according to international media reports,including many children and teenagers.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abou Zeid offered Egypt’s deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and full solidarity with the British government and people in facing terrorism.

The attack is considered to be the deadliest in the UK since the London bombings of 2005 that killed over 50 in transport networks. Monday’s attack took place by the end of Ariana Grande’s concert, reportedly by a lone suicide bomber, Manchester police told international media.

In a Tuesday statement, Abou Zeid added that “such a savage act of terrorism occurring shortly after the Riyadh US-Arab-Islamic summit on countering terrorism calls attention to the necessity of united international efforts to implement strict mechanisms to face the roots of terrorism and its sources of funding.”

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi had highlighted, in a speech he made during the summit, the importance of cutting roots of terrorism, including sources of funding and weaponry.

“A comprehensive confrontation of terrorism necessitates a confrontation that addresses all dimensions of this phenomenon, including funding and arming, as well as political and ideological support.A terrorist is not only the one who carries arms, but also the one who trains, funds, arms, and offers a political and ideological cover,” Al-Sisi stated.

He went on by questioning what he described as “safe havens” offered for terrorist organizations, enabling them to “train their fighters, treat their wounded, and make changes and replacements of their equipment,” as well as how they get to sell oil and do trade, how they are offered a media presence, and from where they receive financial donations.