World leaders condemn, stand in solidarity
PARIS: World leaders unanimously condemned the apparent “lone-wolf” attack in the heart of London.
In a telegram of condolence, Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened”to learn of the “tragedy” and said he said he was praying for “divine strength and peace” for the families of the injured and dead.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany stood “firmly and resolutely alongside Britons in the struggle against all forms of terrorism” while President FrankWalter Steinmeier added: “In these grave moments, we Germans feel very close to the British people.”
President Francois Hollande sent a message of “solidarity” and “support to the British people” saying France could identify with their pain after the attack, in which three French high school students were also wounded. “France, which has been hit so hard in recent times, knows what the British people are suffering today,” he said. Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve tweeted: “Solidarity with our British friends, horribly attacked, full support for the injured French students, their families and their friends.”
The White House condemned the attack and pledged “the full support of the US government in responding to the attack and bringing those to justice who are responsible”, spokesman Sean Spicer said at a briefing.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: “Our thoughts are with the victims of today’s attack in London and their families. Canadians remain united with the people of the UK.”
European Commission President JeanClaude Juncker said the attack left him “highly emotional”. In Brussels to commemorate the one-year anniversary of attacks on the main airport and a metro station, Mr Juncker said: “The fact that exactly on the same day something similar happened in London, and to London, is really putting me in the situation of someone who does not have ... enough words to express how I am deeply feeling.”
European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted: “My thoughts are with the victims of the Westminster attack. Europe stands firm with the UK against terror and ready to help.”
“The forces of terror are acting more and more cunningly and cynically,” Russian president Vladimir Putin said, adding that “a real uniting of the efforts of all the members of the international community” was needed to combat extremism.
Netherlands prime minister Mark Rutte told Dutch television he was shocked by the “horrific” news and said: “The city is in our hearts. We are following the situation closely and are in contact with the British authorities.”
Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni, who observed a moment of silence at the start of a meeting with Social Democratic lawmakers, expressed his “condolences” and said: “Italy and the United Kingdom remain side-by-side in our condemnation and firm response to all forms of terrorism.”
“Our condolences are with those who mourn and all who are affected in London,” Belgian prime minister Charles Michel tweeted. “Belgium stands with UK in fight against terror.”
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasised that “Turkey feels and shares deeply in the United Kingdom’s pain” and that it stood in “solidarity” with Britain “in the fight against terrorism”.
Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim called terrorism “a global catastrophe” on Turkish television, adding: “All countries should come together on the terror issue and fight together against” it.
“We express our solidarity with the British people on today’s indiscriminate attack,” Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras tweeted.
Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy tweeted: “I condemn the attack in the vicinity of Westminster, London. Solidarity with the victims.”
In a message to Queen Elizabeth II, Chinese president Xi Jinping condemned the attack, saying terrorism was the common enemy of the international community.