(Eagle News) — The Philippines on Sunday condemned the Saturday attack in London that left seven people killed, as it assured its citizens it was “closely monitoring” the situation there.
“The Philippines strongly condemns the appalling attacks in London and conveys its deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who perished and those who were injured,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
According to the DFA, the attacks were “evidently calculated to strike terror in the hearts of all peace-loving peoples which deserve the condemnation of the entire international community.”
Even if no Filipino has been confirmed to be among the seven dead nor the 48 injured, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in London was keeping tabs of the situation.
“In mourning the loss of innocent lives and praying for the speedy recovery of those who were injured, the Philippines confirms its solidarity with the United Kingdom and her people,” it added.
Saturday night’s attack that saw three assailants smashing a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before attacking revellers in a popular nightlife hub with knives had harrowing echoes of the one on London’s Westminster Bridge in March, when British Khalid Masood rammed his car into pedestrians before crashing into the barriers surrounding parliament.
He stabbed a police officer to death before being shot dead by a ministerial bodyguard.
Police said they may never know his motivation.
Only recently, scores were killed in an attack on a concert by United States pop star Ariana Grande in Manchester, northwest England. (With a report from AFP)