Reaction to the 2017 Finsbury Park attack
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The reaction to the 2017 Finsbury Park attack include the responses by political and religious leaders, media and the general public, both within the United Kingdom, where the 2017 Finsbury Park attack took place, and from other nations and international organizations. Domestic responses Prime Minister Theresa May gave a statement following the incident "This morning, our country woke to news of another terrorist attack on the streets of our capital city: the second this month and every bit as sickening as those which have come before." The Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn, whose constituency includes Finsbury Park, stated that he is "totally shocked" and that his "thoughts and prayers are with those and the community affected by this awful event". The Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said South Wales Police were working with officers from London on the investigation. In a tweet, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon described the attack as "dreadful news again from London", She said her thoughts were with all affected. While the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones said his thoughts are with all those affected by the London mosque terror attack and described it as "another senseless attack". Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said this was intended to "divide communities" and "make us stop leading the lives that we do. Terrorism is terrorism," he told reporters. "It doesn't matter whether you're inspired by a perverse force of Islam — a perverse version of Islam — or you're inspired by some other motives to try and terrorize others. The intention is the same." Flags were flown at half mast in Jersey on June 19 as a mark of respect for people caught up in the Finsbury Park attack. The Penshaw Monument and the Magistrates' Court building in Keel Square in Sunderland was lit up in red, white and blue as a mark of respect following the incident, the Union Flag was also flying at half mast at Sunderland Civic Centre and Burnley Town Hall. International responses International bodies *: Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the attack, affirming his solidarity with the United Kingdom in the face of such terrorist acts. While the Spokesman Mahmoud Afifi said that this criminal act comes to reaffirm that terrorism has no religion or belief, and targets innocent people without discrimination. *: The European Commission sent sympathy and solidarity to the United Kingdom in a tweet "Our deep sympathies and solidarity with the British people as well as the Portuguese as you face tragic events." **Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos reacted in a tweet "Strongly condemn attack near Mosque at #FinsburyPark.To those who wish to divide our communities, we have to respond with unity." *: "The incident reflected the rise of Islamophobia in Europe, especially after the recent terrorist attacks which had raised the concern for a potential backlash against Muslim communities," read a statement issued by the OIC. *: Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was saddened by the events in London and reaction to this on Twitter; "Saddened by the terrible incident in London last night. My thoughts are with those affected, all Londoners and the British people." *: Secretary-General António Guterres Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a briefing "the United Nations is analyzing available information about the attack near a mosque in London and early data indicates it was a terrorist act." States or entries *: An Algerian national was injured during the terrorist attack and stressed in a statement "This vicious terrorist attack against innocent worshipers is clearly aimed at compromising the values of peace, tolerance and diversity," Foreign Ministry's spokesman Abdelaziz Benali Cherif said in a statement. *: A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman confirmed the Australian High Commission in London was making urgent inquiries with local authorities to determine whether any Australians had been affected in the Finsbury Park incident. *: In its statement, the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its sincere condolences to the British Government and families of the victims of this crime which targeted innocents and aimed to terrorise them and threaten their lives," the Bahrain News Agency reported which added "The ministry affirms that Bahrain stands with the friendly United Kingdom in rejecting violence and terrorism in all of its forms, and reiterates its support for the measures taken by the UK in such circumstances to protect the security of citizens and residents on its territories. The ministry stresses the importance of concerted efforts to act resolutely and without hesitation on eradicating terrorism which has no boundaries nor faith and aims to destabilise the security and stability of all world countries," the statement added. *: "The attack near the mosque in Finsbury Park in London is defined as a potential terrorist attack", Ambassador Konstantin Dimitrov, said, according to FOCUS News Agency and he added '"The investigation is at its early stage, we observe the situation". *: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also condemned the attack, "We strongly condemn the Finsbury Park terror attack. In these difficult weeks for London & the UK, know you'll always have Canada's support," Trudeau tweeted. *: According to a statement released on the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s official page, Egypt expressed its full solidarity with the UK and the families of the victims. *: Chancellor Angela Merkel's Spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Monday that the government's sympathy goes to the victims and their relatives, the London mosque community and "all our friends in London and Britain who are barely able to find peace at the moment." and called the attack "an act of blind hatred - and that would give it a place in the terrorist acts of recent weeks and months." *: President Emmanuel Macron shared his thoughts on Twitter following the attack, "Thoughts for London and the victims after this new ordeal." *: President Michael D. Higgins said on Twitter "My heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the brutal attack on ordinary people at their place of worship." *: Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani expressed the government solidarity with the UK and the families of the victims. *: The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said the government condemned the attack and issued a statement, "It is particularly disconcerting as it seemed to be particularly targeted at worshippers just finishing their prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. Malaysia hopes the perpetrators will be brought to justice," it added. *: Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs condemned the "horrible attack" and said "Horrible attack on mosque attendees in London. I empathize with the victims. Offered condolences to colleague Johnson", Koenders said on the Ministry's Twitter. *: "The appalling attack stands against the shared values of the Philippines and the UK as peace-loving and tolerant societies that respect all religions, the Philippines expresses its condolences and sympathy with the victim, the injured, and their families, and reaffirms its solidarity with the United Kingdom in the fight against terrorism and all its forms," the DFA said in a statement. *: Qatar expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the ploughing of a van into a crowd; the Foreign Ministry reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism regardless of their source and whatever their motives and causes and also stressed Qatar’s rejection of all criminal acts that terrorise innocent people and contravene all human values and principles and affirmed full solidarity with the British government and its support for any measures taken to maintain its security and stability and also expressed Qatar’s condolences to the families of the victims and the UK government, wishing the injured speedy recovery." *: Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement "That this heinous attack had taken place during the holy month of Ramadan is even more disturbing. Such acts remind us that we must remain vigilant, and not allow mistrust and enmity to be sowed in society. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of the victim, and we hope that the injured will make a quick recovery," it said. *: An official source at the Foreign Ministry condemned terrorist attack and expressed his country’s firm rejection of all forms of terrorism and extremism. *: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released for general information that al staff at the High Commission, The Bahamas Maritime Authority and The Bahamas Tourist Office in London were all accounted for and that prayers were offered for the victims of the unfortunate incident. *: ”The UAE condemns this terrorist act and reiterates its unshakeable position against all forms of violence and terrorism, which target all without the distinction of religion and race, and regardless of sources and pretexts,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in a statement on Monday. *: The White House says President Donald Trump received updates on the incident in London. The State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert also said the United States stands with the United Kingdom and is ready to provide any help that British officials would find helpful. She’s called the incident a "terrorist attack" and said the US is extending sympathy to the families and communities of the victims and hopes the wounded recover quickly.
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