French government and citizens condemn Manchester attack

Record ID: 875725

  • Title: French government and citizens condemn Manchester attack
  • Date: 23rd May 2017
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) (MUTE) WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, WITH FIRST TWO LINES READING (French): "It is with horror and dismay that Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic, learned the new of the deadly attack which struck Manchester Arena yesterday evening during a concert. / He sends the British people all France's compassion and concern, which stands in mourning next to Britain with a particular thought for the victims and their families." (MUTE) WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, EDOUARD PHILIPPE, WITH FIRST LINE READING (French): "The most cowardly terrorism has once again struck, targeting, as in Paris over a year ago, a place of performance; and more specifically and deliberately, very young people and young girls gathered for a moment of celebration and joy." (MUTE) WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER AND MINISTER OF EUROPE, JEAN-YVES LE DRIAN, WITH FIRST LINE READING (French): "It is with strong emotion that I learned of the terrorist attack which took place in a Manchester concert hall on the evening of May 22. I condemn with great firmness this odious act which targeted our British ally. France expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and assures the citizens of Manchester and the British authorities of its solidarity during this hardship." SIGN FOR METRO PEOPLE COMING OUT OF METRO STATION PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (French) 60-YEAR-OLD HOTEL MANAGER, CATARINA, SAYING: "Well yes, when I learned that, it reminds us straight away of Paris (attacks). It's sad, and it's especially sad because it is young people who were targeted and we are all truly implicated, because it is very hard for whichever country, and the problem is that nobody is now safe, there is no country that is safe, that is the saddest thing." GROUP OF WOMEN TALKING IN STREET MAN SPEAKING ON PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (French) 26-YEAR-OLD IT ENGINEER, TAOUIL MOHAMED, SAYING: "I think that, if it is Daesh (Arabic acronym for Islamic State), I don't know, I think that they don't really have an idea about their targets. I've got the impression that they are slightly lacking in methods, that it is really their way of showing that they have a capacity for terrorism, for creating fear." PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2017 10:20
  • Keywords: reactions France Ariana Grande attack security Britain Manchester Arena
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016I2796V
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: French president Emmanuel Macron and other government ministers condemned on Tuesday (May 23) the suicide bombing of a pop concert in Manchester overnight that killed 22 people, while French people expressed their solidarity with the British people.
    Macron expressed his "horror and dismay" at the attacks and conveyed France's solidarity to the British people and families of victims. He is due to speak to British Prime Minister Theresa May later on Tuesday, a source in the president's office said.
    French prime minister Edouard Philippe denounced the attack as an act of "cowardly terrorism", and foreign affairs and Europe minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian also offered his condolences and solidarity while condemning "with great firmness this odious act which targeted our British ally."
    Passers-by in Paris told Reuters TV on Tuesday that they too felt implicated by the attacks, bringing back memories of the repeated attacks to hit Paris in recent years.
    Catarina, a 60-year-old hotel manager, said that it was "especially sad because it is young people who were targeted," and feels that no country is now safe from the threats of this kind.
    More than 230 people have died in France in the past two years at the hands of attackers allied to the militant group Islamic State, whose strongholds in Syria and Iraq are being bombed by an international coalition including France.
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