Advertisement

Trump condemns 'evil losers' as other world leaders decry Manchester concert attack

 
President Donald Trump pauses as he makes a statement on the terrorist attack in Manchester, after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in the West Bank City of Bethlehem. [Associated Press]
President Donald Trump pauses as he makes a statement on the terrorist attack in Manchester, after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in the West Bank City of Bethlehem. [Associated Press]
Published May 23, 2017

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — President Donald Trump condemned the "evil losers" responsible for the deadly attack on concert-goers in England Tuesday and called on leaders in the Middle East in particular to help root out violence.

"The terrorists and extremists and those who give them aid and comfort must be driven out from our society forever," Trump said during remarks in Bethlehem alongside Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. "This wicked ideology must be obliterated."

Trump spoke on his fourth and final day in the Middle East. After meetings with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia, the president has been pushing the prospect of peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Standing alongside Abbas, Trump said an agreement with Israel could "begin a process of peace all throughout the Middle East."

Abbas said he was keen to "keep the door open to dialogue with our Israeli neighbors." He reiterated the Palestinians demands, including establishing a capital in East Jerusalem, territory Israel claims as well.

The White House said Trump was being kept updated on the attacks in Manchester, England, by his national security team. More than 20 people were killed by an apparent suicide bomber. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

RELATED STORY: At least 22 killed, 59 hurt after terrorist incident at Ariana Grande concert, UK police say

British Prime Minister Theresa May said the attack "stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice deliberately targeting innocent defenseless children and young people who should have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives."

She called it among the worst terrorist incidents in Britain and "the worst ever to hit the north of England."

Several other world leaders joined Trump in decrying the explosion.

ANSA reported that Italian President Sergio Mattarella sent Queen Elizabeth II a message, saying: "All of Italy is dismayed by the images that came from Manchester during the night. The news of the involvement of very young boys and girls, victims of this senseless criminal violence while they were at the serene occasion of a concert, causes particular pain."

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called Monday's bombing an "attack on innocence," according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Surely there is no crime more reprehensible than the murder of children," he said, adding: "This is a direct attack on young people everywhere, on freedom everywhere."