World leaders condemn attack in Nice

PARIS/CAIRO－Many world leaders condemned the fatal stabbings on Thursday in the French city of Nice that France has called an extremist terrorist attack.

Condemnation came from UN chief Antonio Guterres, US President Donald Trump as well as European, Arab and Israeli leaders. Some cautioned against linking it to religion.

The attack took place on Thursday morning at the Notre-Dame church in downtown Nice, leaving three people killed. The alleged perpetrator, a Tunisian migrant, was shot by police and transferred to a hospital.

The man went on a near half-hour rampage with a 30-centimeter knife, targeting people praying in the basilica. A 60-year old woman died inside the church and the body of a man, a 55-year old church employee, was found nearby, his throat also slit.

Another woman, a 44-year old Brazilian who fled the church to a nearby restaurant, died shortly afterward from multiple knife wounds.

Shortly after the attack, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Nice, calling the incident an extremist terrorist attack.

The French national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said it would investigate the incident under "attempted assassination in connection with a terrorist enterprise."

France has been on high alert after a knife attack near the former office in central Paris of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Sept 25 and the beheading of a history teacher outside a middle school in a Paris suburb on Oct 16.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday that more attacks on French soil are likely as the country is engaged in a war against extremist ideology.

"We are in a war against an enemy that is both inside and outside," Darmanin told RTL radio. "We need to understand that there have been and there will be other events such as these terrible attacks."

One of the first to condemn was Turkey, embroiled in a row with France for permitting publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that have triggered the recent wave of attacks.

"We condemn the heinous terrorist attack in the Notre-Dame church in Nice," Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter.

"Terrorism has no religion, language or color," he said, emphasizing that Turkey will fight with determination and solidarity against all forms of terrorism and extremism.

Guterres "strongly condemns the heinous attack in Nice," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Trump said on social media: "Our hearts are with the people of France. America stands with our oldest ally in this fight. These Radical Islamic terrorist attacks must stop immediately. No country, France or otherwise, can long put up with it!"

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also condemned the attack, while adding that "peace cannot be achieved with ugly provocation".

In the Middle East, Arab and Islamic leaders drew a clear distinction between their religion and violent acts that claimed to defend it.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry said "Egypt rejects such terrorist incidents, which completely contradict human nature and the teachings of all heavenly religions".

Qatar reiterated its rejection of violence and terrorism, especially against places of worship and regardless of the motives.

Lebanese prime minister designate Saad Hariri urged Muslims "to reject this criminal act that has nothing to do with Islam or the Prophet".

During talks with the Italian foreign minister, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin warned: "The attempt to foment war between religions is inconceivable. There is no war between Christianity and Islam, or between Judaism and Islam, and we must be sure that no one is allowed to make that happen."

EU solidarity

European Union leaders quickly expressed solidarity with France, and pledged to confront "those that seek to incite and spread hatred".

"I condemn the odious and brutal attack that has just taken place in Nice and I am with France with all my heart," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted.

"We will remain united and determined in the face of barbarity and fanaticism."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was "deeply shaken by the brutal murders" and said "my thoughts are with the relatives of those murdered and injured. Germany stands with France at this difficult time."

In a statement issued later by EU Council chief Charles Michel, the 27 leaders expressed solidarity with France but made no reference to the controversy over cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte condemned the "cowardly attack" and said: "Our convictions are stronger than fanaticism, hatred and terror. We embrace the families of the victims and our French brothers. We are united!"

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was "appalled" at the "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."

Xinhua - Agencies