World Leaders Condemn Knife Attack That Killed 3 in France’s Nice
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 29 October, took to Twitter to “condemn the recent terrorist attacks in France” after a woman was reportedly nearly beheaded and killed by an attacker with a knife, who also killed two other people at a church in the French city of Nice on Thursday, 29 October.
French President Emmanuel Macron meanwhile denounced the incident as an “Islamic terrorist attack” and called on the French to unite and “not give in to the spirit of division”, AFP reported.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex raised France’s security alert to its highest level, and issued a statement saying that the response to the attack would be “firm and implacable”.
Jean Castex further said that the nation shares the pain of the victims’ kin and “the entire Catholic community”.
La Nation partage la douleur et l'immense émotion des familles des victimes de Nice et de toute la communauté catholique qui a été frappée en plein coeur.
Cette attaque aussi lâche que barbare endeuille le pays tout entier.
Notre réponse sera ferme, implacable et immédiate. pic.twitter.com/DMHdXZQM3v— Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) October 29, 2020
Many international public figures including the Pope, the Italian and Spanish prime ministers and senior advisor to the Turkish President have since taken to Twitter to condemn the attack and show solidarity with Nice.
Also Read: 3 Dead in Knife Attack at Church in France’s Nice, Woman Beheaded
US President Donald Trump took to Twitter in condemnation of the attack, adding that America stood with its “oldest ally in this fight”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there could be “no justification or equivocation” for the attack, while Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called it an “escalating vicious cycle.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was appalled by the news and added that the UK would stand “steadfastly with France against terror and intolerance”.
Pope Francis wrote that he mourned the attack and prayed “for the victims, for their families and for the beloved French people, that they may respond to evil with good.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offered his sympathy and solidarity in the aftermath of the attack and said they would stand united “in the face of terror and hate”.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte meanwhile said, “The cowardly attack that took place in Nice does not affect the common front in defence of the values of freedom and peace. Our certainties are stronger than fanaticism, hatred and terror. We embrace the families of the victims and our French brothers. We are united!”
Il vile attacco che si è consumato a Nizza non scalfisce il fronte comune a difesa dei valori di libertà e pace. Le nostre certezze sono più forti di fanatismo, odio e terrore. Ci stringiamo ai familiari delle vittime e ai nostri fratelli francesi.
Nous Sommes Unis!— Giuseppe Conte (@GiuseppeConteIT) October 29, 2020
Also Read: Paris Teacher Killed, Beheaded Over Prophet’s Caricatures: Police
Charles Michel, European Council President said, “All my solidarity with France and the French. My thoughts are with the victims of the heinous attack in Nice and their loved ones. All of Europe is with you.”
Gülnur Aybet, Senior Advisor to Turkey’s President Erdogan, also tweeted in condemnation of the attack.
Turkey also condemned the attack a statement, saying, “There can be no reason to excuse the killing of a human being and justify violence.”
"It is obvious that those who carried out such a brutal attack in a sacred place of worship have never benefited from religious, human or moral values,” the statement read, according to Turkey’s Anadolu agency.
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