Arab, Muslim leaders strongly condemn Manchester terror assault

Jeddah, May 24: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday joined Arab and Muslim world leaders in condemning the terrorist attack in Manchester, England.

Dozens were killed and injured, including many children and teens, in the terror attack after a musical performance by US pop star Ariana Grande.

An official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing the Kingdom’s strong condemnation of Monday’s bomb attack.

The statement reaffirmed the Kingdom’s solidarity with the UK and underscored the importance of pooling together international efforts to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and extremism.

It also offered the Kingdom’s condolences to the families of the victims, the government and the people of the UK, wishing a speedy recovery for the wounded.

The Saudi ambassador to the UK also conveyed Saudi Arabia’s sincere condolences over what he described as a “cowardly” attack.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We continue to stand united with the UK in the global fight against terrorism,” envoy Mohammed bin Nawaf said in a tweet.

Jordan also condemned the “ugly terrorist bombing,” described by government spokesman and Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani as “inhumane and cowardly.”

“This incident reflects the true face of terrorism and extremism, carried out against humanity by evil and malevolent hands, which aim to destabilize nations and terrorize innocent people,” Momani said, reiterating Jordan’s firm position against terrorism and all forms of other violence and its efforts to eradicate its sources.

Yousef Al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), condemned the attack, which led to the death of at least 22 people and injured more than 50.

Denouncing the heinous nature of the attack, the secretary-general expressed anguish over the death and injury of so many innocent people and expressed hope that the UK authorities will bring those responsible to justice.

Initial reports said the perpetrator of the attack blew himself up, but authorities are carrying out investigations into possible accomplices.

Al-Othaimeen offered his condolence to the families of the victims, and to the people and government of the UK, and reiterated the OIC’s principled position that vigorously denounces all acts of terrorism and violent extremism, just as it categorically rejects any justification for terrorism.

Expressing his strong condemnation of the terrorist attack, GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani said the heinous crimes violate all moral and human values and prove, over and over again, the need for a unified international effort to counter and eliminate terrorism wherever it is found. He expressed the GCC states’ solidarity with the UK and the British people.

The Egyptian government condemned “in the strongest terms” the terrorist attack in an official statement issued on Tuesday.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said that such a terrorist attack just days after an anti-terrorism summit in Riyadh reaffirms the need for the international community to take determined action to eliminate terrorism and dry out its resources.

A spokesman at the ministry expressed Egypt’s support for the British government and people in combating terrorism and any attempts to intimidate its citizens.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif “strongly condemned” the Manchester attack, said the Foreign Office spokesman, Nafees Zakaria.

The “PM stated that elimination of terrorism requires concerted efforts and such acts targeted toward innocent people is highly condemnable,” Zakaria said in a statement on Twitter.

“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the (government and people of the) UK against all forms of terrorism,” he continued. “We deeply sympathize with the families of the deceased.”

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at an Istanbul University graduation ceremony, said: “We share the grief of the British government and its people. Like every country, I would like to stress that we stand with Britain in the fight against terrorism.”

Turkish EU Affairs Minister Ömer Celik said: “Those who kill innocent people are the common enemy of humanity. Terror has no country, race, religion or language. We will continue to fight against this atrocity.”

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the Arab League, also condemned “the terrorist incident,” expressing sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

The secretary-general’s spokesman, Mahmoud Afifi, said that this heinous incident highlights how important it is for the international community to actively and vigorously act to combat the growing threat of terrorism, which has become a threat to many countries in the world.

This can be done by enhancing cooperation and coordination among the relevant authorities, taking into account the complex nature of this threat and the unconventional methods used by terrorist and extremist organizations to carry out their brutal operations and schemes, Afifi said.