Solidarity and outrage as global leaders react to Manchester attack

Politicians from around the world have spoken of their outrage at Monday night’s terror attack at a pop concert in Manchester, and offered their condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Speaking in Bethlehem, where he was meeting the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, Donald Trump said: “I extend my deepest condolences to those so terribly injured in this terrorist attack and to the many killed.”

The US president said “evil losers” and a “wicked ideology” were responsible, going beyond what British police and politicians have thus far said in attributing responsibility for the bombing.

“I won’t call them monsters because they would like that term,” he said. “They would think it was a great term. I will call them from now on losers. Because that’s what they are – losers. We will have more of them but they are losers. Remember that.”

In Scotland, the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, tweeted:

EU leaders vowed to fight terrorism together. Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, said: “My heart is in Manchester this night. Our thoughts are with the victims.”

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, spoke of “shared emotion and full solidarity with families hit by the attack”.

The French prime minister, Édouard Philippe, called on French citizens to be vigilant following the attack, which Philippe described as an “abominable crime”.

“The most cowardly form of terrorism has struck once again, targeting – as in Paris more than a year ago – a concert venue,” Philippe said in a reference to the attack at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris in November 2015. “I call on my fellow citizens to observe the utmost vigilance, confronted as we are with a threat which is more present than ever before,” he said.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, will hold a telephone call with May later on Tuesday, his office said.

The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said it was “incomprehensible” that someone would target a pop concert to kill and wound people. She said in a statement that the attack “will only strengthen our determination to keep acting together with our British friends against those who plan and carry out such inhuman deeds”.

Italy’s prime minister, Paolo Gentiloni, said: “Italy unites with the British people and government. Our thoughts are with the victims of the Manchester attacks and their families.”

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said: “I am sending condolences to the families of those murdered and wishes of a speedy recovery to the wounded. Terrorism is a global threat and it is incumbent on the enlightened countries to defeat it everywhere.”

Vladimir Putin sent May his condolences over the attack. “We strongly condemn this cynical, inhuman crime, and hope that those who ordered it will receive their deserved punishment,” the Russian president’s message said.

He also “reiterated Russia’s willingness to improve anti-terror cooperation” with Britain, according to a Kremlin statement. Britain suspended most cooperation with Russian security services after the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.

Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, condemned the attack and said his country stood side by side with the British people. In a message to May, Abe said he was “deeply shocked” that “this appalling act of terrorism” had targeted young people while they were attending a concert.

He added: “On behalf of the government of Japan and the Japanese people, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the victims and extend our sympathies to those who have been injured.”

In a statement, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said: “The Chinese government feels shocked and is filled with sorrow over the explosion that has occurred in Manchester. We express our deepest condolences to the victims and extend our sincere sympathies to those who were injured and the bereaved families.”

Earlier, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, was reported to have sent a message of solidarity to the Queen. “The Chinese people are firmly standing together with the British people at this difficult time,” Xi said.

The Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, said he was appalled by the “barbaric and cowardly attack on innocent concertgoers”.

“At this time of heartbreak, Malaysia stands united with Britain. We must be firm, determined and ready to confront terror swiftly and decisively wherever and whenever it manifests itself. We must never surrender,” Najib said.

Other politicians from around the world tweeted messages of condolence and support: