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US President Donald Trump has drawn strong backlash from his country and in Europe over a tweet he put out over the London terror attack that killed seven and left 48 injured on Saturday night.
The President tweeted to criticize London Mayor Sadiq Khan for telling residents that there is ‘no reason to be alarmed’ after three terrorists ran over a crowd of people and stabbed several others before being shot dead.
But Khan, who had earlier condemned the attacks as “barbaric” and “cowardly”, was referring to an increased police presence in the British capital when he said there was ‘no reason to be alarmed’.
In a television interview, the Mayor had said: ‘Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. There’s no reason to be alarmed.’
Then Sunday morning, Trump tweeted: ‘We must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don’t get smart it will only get worse.’
‘At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is “no reason to be alarmed!”‘
A spokesman for Khan’s office responded to Trump’s tweets, saying: ‘The Mayor is busy working with the police, emergency services and the government to coordinate the response to this horrific and cowardly terrorist attack.
‘He has more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks urging Londoners not to be alarmed when they saw more police – including armed officers – on the streets.’
He added: ‘The advice to the public is to remain vigilant but carry on with their lives.’
The US embassy in the UK also distanced itself in opinion, from Trump.
The Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of US in London, Lew Lukens, tweeted: “It is with a heavy heart I offer my condolences and support to the people of the United Kingdom. America grieves with you.
“The response from emergency services, law enforcement & officials in Ldn–as well as ordinary Londoners–has been extraordinary.
“I commend the strong leadership of the @MayorofLondon as he leads the city forward after this heinous attack”
And Trump’s former presidential-rival, Hillary Clinton, used the opportunity to take a shot. She tweeted Sunday evening in support of Khan.
“After acts of unspeakable cruelty & cowardice, the people of London & the UK choose resolve over fear. Your friends in the US stand w/ you” Clinton tweeted.
Celebrities, including JK Rowling, George Takei and Katie Couric joined in the former Secretary-of State’s criticism on Twitter, expressing their outrage and condemning Trump’s tweets as out of context.