- Title: Terrorism will never defeat us, Merkel says after Barcelona attack
- Date: 18th August 2017
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 18, 2017) (REUTERS) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL ARRIVING FOR STATEMENT MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "These murderous attacks have once again shown us the full contempt for mankind involved in Islamist terrorism. And we have also felt during these hours how closely we - Spaniards, Germans, free people of the whole word - are united. We are united first and foremost in deep sorrow, that people, probably in the middle of their summer holidays, have been robbed of their lives in such a brutal way. On behalf of the German people I express my condolences to the families of the dead, who lost loved ones so horrifically. We are just as united in sending our best wishes and prayers from all religions to the injured, and we hope that they recover swiftly." MERKEL'S HANDS ON THE PODIUM MERKEL SPEAKING, MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "We are also united in our resolve not to allow these murderers to stop us living our way of life. Barcelona in particular represents so much of this free world: beauty, tolerance, and peaceful encounters between people of all countries and cultures. Terrorism may inflict bitter and terribly sad hours upon us, as has happened in Spain, but it can never defeat us." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "I will say this quite openly: I have of course considered whether we should meet here today, whether we should continue with campaign events. And I concluded, and have also agreed with the leaders of the other parties that we will do so. Elections and the weeks before them are a celebration of democracy, and therefore a celebration of our freedom. Terrorists will never understand this. But we know in this democracy, in the freedom and the respect of the individual, that is where our strength lies." JOURNALIST TYPING ON LAPTOP MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "I would also like to add that our representatives, above all the Federal Foreign Office, are in contact with the Spanish government, and we will try to clarify as soon as possible to what extent Germans were caught up in this attack, and in what way. At the moment, we cannot comment on this with accuracy. As agreed with other parties we will carry out our planned campaign events, but that we will avoid playing loud music in recognition of the sad hours that we are living through. We will also make time for a minute of silence, and I have the support of the other parties in this regard." MEDIA MERKEL LEAVING
- Embargoed: 1st September 2017 10:48
- Keywords: Barcelona attack Merkel reaction
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
- Reuters ID: LVA0016UOOW1Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Germany stands united with Spain in its determination not to allow terrorist attacks stop people living their lives, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday (August 18), after a suspected Islamist militant killed 13 people in Barcelona.
"These murderous attacks have once again shown us the full contempt for mankind involved in Islamist terrorism," Merkel said.
"We're united in our resolve not to allow these murders... stop us living our way of life," she said, adding that Barcelona in particular stood for tolerance, beauty and peaceful encounters between people of different cultures.
"Terrorism may inflict bitter and terribly sad hours upon us, as has happened in Spain, but it can never defeat us," she said.
Merkel said she had spoken to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to extend Germany's condolences.
She also said she had spoken to representatives of the other parties in Germany and they had collectively decided to continue campaigning ahead of a Sept. 24 election but they would forego loud music and hold minutes of silence. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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