Europe and many countries around the world are expressing solidarity with France and condemning yesterday’s attack in Nice, where a man with a knife killed at least three people and injured more. Slovenian President Borut Pahor, Prime Minister Janez Janša and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed their views on Twitter.
“On behalf of the Republic of Slovenia, I express my deepest condolences to the French people and express great solidarity to President and friend Macron” President Pahor wrote on Twitter.
Janša wrote on Twitter “stay strong” in English, and in French “zero tolerance for terrorism” with the key word Emmanuel Macron and solidarity. The Foreign Ministry expressed its support for the French nation and the defence of European values in French on Twitter. “All our thoughts are with the victims of the horrific attack in Nice and their relatives,” they wrote.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte expressed support for France and the French after the attack. “The cowardly attack in Nice did not leave even a scratch on the common front of defending the values of freedom and peace. Our beliefs are stronger than fanaticism, hatred and violence,” he wrote on Twitter. He ended the message in French with “we are united,” reports the Italian news agency Ansa.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that Germany stands by France in these difficult times after the brutal attack. She expressed her shock. “My thoughts are with the relatives of the murdered and wounded,” she added in a tweet posted by her spokesperson Steffen Seibert.
European Parliament President David Sassoli called on Europeans to unite in the fight against violence and those who seek to incite and spread hatred. He expressed shock and deep sadness at the new horrific attack in Nice. “We all feel pain in Europe,” he tweeted.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the brutal attack. “I’m with France with all my heart,” she tweeted. She emphasized that the whole of Europe was in solidarity with France. “We will remain united and determined against barbarism and fanaticism,” she added.
The French Bishops’ Conference condemned this “indescribable attack” and called for an urgent fight against terrorism. They pointed out that people were “attacked and killed because they were in church.” “Our entire country is a victim of these horrific attacks,” they wrote in a statement, stressing that despite the grief that weighs on them, “Catholics will not succumb to fear and want to counter this blind and treacherous threat together with the entire nation.” They added that bells would ring in churches across France in honour of the victims of the attack at 3 p.m., the German news agency dpa reported.
The attack was also condemned by Turkey, which is in a growing dispute with France these days over the support of French President Emmanuel Macron for publishing caricatures of the Islamic prophet Mohammed after the brutal murder of a teacher and for announced measures against Islamic extremism. In a press release, the Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the brutal attack and expressed solidarity and condolences to France and to the relatives of the victims, the French news agency AFP reported.
Condemnations of the attack in Nice and expressions of solidarity with France are coming from around the world
The attack in Nice has also been condemned by the Vatican, which stresses that terrorism and violence are not acceptable. “This is a moment of pain in a time of confusion. Terrorism and violence cannot be accepted,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni was quoted as saying by foreign news agencies. He said, Pope Francis prays for the victims and their relatives.
“Today’s attack sowed death in a place of love and consolation, in the Lord’s house. The Pope was informed of the situation and is mourning along with the Catholic community,” the Vatican said.
The attack was also condemned by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who expressed solidarity with France in the fight against extremism. “I am appalled to hear the news from Nice this morning of a barbaric attack at the Notre-Dame Basilica,” he tweeted in English and French. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and the UK stands steadfastly with France against terror and intolerance,” he wrote.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also expressed solidarity with France in the fight against extremism on Twitter. “We are telling our French friends: you are not alone in the fight against extremism. The Netherlands is on your side,” Rutte tweeted.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron expressing condolences and support for the French people, the Hungarian news agency MTI reported. “The attacks witnessed today and in recent weeks have made it clear that our shared European culture, way of life and values are caught in the crossfire of extremist terrorism,” Orban said.
“Terrorism, violence and hatred are modern plagues that blight our world. Our heart is with France,” Israeli President Reuven Rivlin wrote on Twitter. “Our hearts are with the families of the victims of today’s despicable terror attack in a church in France and our prayers for the recovery of those injured,” Rivlin wrote.