Asian Leaders Condemn Terror Attack on Westminster

Asian leaders expressed their condolences for the victims of the terror attacks on the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday, in which 4 people, including a policeman were killed and 40 others injured. The attacker was shot dead by armed police, within the grounds of the UK Parliament building.

Indian Premier Narenda Modi tweeted, ‘At this difficult moment, India stands with UK in the fight against terrorism’ and ‘Deeply saddened by the terror attack in London. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families’. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted, ‘Terror attack in London is a highly condemnable act of cowardice. Saddened by the loss of lives, my prayers are with the victims’ families.’ The Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parl’t) observed silence to honour victims of London terrorist attack, reported the Indian High Commission in the UK via Twitter.

China’s President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth over the terrorist attack in London. The Chinese Embassy in London announced ‘While strongly condemning the terrorist attack, President Xi expresses profound condolences for the loss of innocent lives and sincere sympathies to the victims and their families. President Xi points out that terrorism is the common enemy of the international community. China is firmly opposed to terrorism in all its forms, and will strengthen cooperation with the United Kingdom and the rest of the international community, in order to make vigorous efforts to uphold security in the two countries and the world at large.’ The incident was also covered in national media, “London experiences terrorist attack incident,” read the headline of the Global Times, an English language newspaper in China.

Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote Prime Minister Theresa May to convey their condolences on Thursday, reports the StraitsTimes. “On behalf of the people of Singapore, I convey our deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, and whose lives have been affected by this horrific incident. We wish those injured a speedy recovery,” he wrote.

Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian Prime Minister, tweeted ‘Australia stands in resolute solidarity with the people of Britain in war against terrorism. Our heartfelt sympathies are with the victims’, reports the Huffington Post. It was later confirmed that an Australian resident was injured when she was run over by the attacker’s car on Westminster Bridge.

The Indonesian Government through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno L.P. Marsudi expressed her sympathies and condolences for the victims and their families as well as the Government and people of the United Kingdom, in a post on the ministry’s webpages.

Thailand’s Prime Minster Prayut Chan-o-cha also sent his condolences to the British PM reports The Nation “On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the people, I wish to express my profound condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families of those who were affected by this dreadful event. In this hour of anguish, our thoughts and prayers are with the British people. Thailand as a friend of the United Kingdom, stands with the international community in the global fight against all forms of violence and terrorism.”