Indian Church praying for the victims of London attack. The sympathy of world leaders

Cardinal Gracias expresses deep sorrow for an attack that caused a "senseless loss of life." And prays God grant "peace, strength and consolation." Sympathy and solidarity from international leaders. Iran asks to stop the sale of the "weapons to terrorist groups ". Erdogan expresses solidarity with the British, but launches a new attack on Europe.

London (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Church in India is "deeply saddened" by the terrible tragedy that struck Westminster, central London yesterday in a "terrorist attack" that caused a "senseless loss of life." Card. Oswald Gracias, president of the Indian Bishops' Conference FABC President, commenting on yesterday's attack near the Parliament to AsiaNews says. "The Church is praying for the families of the victims and for those who were injured in this inhuman act of violence. And may God grant them peace, strength and consolation”.

According to information provided by Card. Gracias tomorrow the Church in India, on the occasion of the Friday of Lent, will pray "for the victims and families," because "the compassion of God will descend upon them." They will also pray for the bomber and all those who are drawn to extremist ideologies, so that "God's mercy can touch" their hearts. Finally, the leaders of the Episcopal Conference invite people to set aside "ideas of revenge" and hopes that "no one becomes the bearer of hatred and destruction."

Meanwhile, at this time the authorities have updated the toll of the attack. According to reports from Mark Rowley, British anti-terrorism unit commander, the victims would be four in total, including the assailant, and not five as announced at first. The dead, he adds, is a woman of about 40 years, a man in his fifties and the police of 48 stabbed at the entrance to the Parliament. At least 29 injured are still in hospital.

Among the first to express condolences and solidarity were the leaders of France and Germany, which last year reported similar attacks by "lone wolves" inspired by the international Islamic terrorism. French President Francois Hollande expressed his "full solidarity" with the British people, adding that terrorism issue "concerns us all." German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that her thoughts are with "our British friends and to all the people of London." The US president Donald Trump wanted to call the British prime minister Theresa May to offer personal condolences and those of the American people. The occupant of the White House has assured "full cooperation and support" of the US government to catch the perpetrators and their accomplices, "assuring they will be brought to justice."

Meeting with Prime Minister of Australia in Canberra, where he is on an official visit, Premier of China Li Keqiang offered "condolences" to all British people and vigorously "condemned"  terrorism, against which it is "necessary to fight" ceaselessly and without compromise. Russia, in the words of the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova expressed sympathy for the injured and offered condolences to the relatives of those who had died, adding: "We don't split terrorism into categories; we consider it as absolute evil. At this moment, as always, our hearts are together with the British people". " In a statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore expressed "solidarity" with the United Kingdom "in this difficult time." Condolences also came from the leaders of Qatar, condemning violence "in all its forms" and calling on the British government to take "all necessary measures" to ensure the "security" of the country. Anger and shock over the attack are expressed by the spokesman of the Government of Japan Yoshihide Suga, who reiterated "full unity" with the British people.

Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestinian Authority, offers condolences to Premier May and defined the attack an act of "terror", adding that the Palestinians are united to the British people in these difficult times. Even the Gulf Cooperation Council "condemns the attack", as a "gruesome crime that contradicts all ethical and human values." Iran condemns the "terrorist" attacks in London and expressed its "solidarity with the victims' families." In a statement the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Bahram Ghassemi invited "all countries" to form "a broad international coalition to fight terrorism" and called on the West to stop the "policy of two weights and two measures against this phenomenon. " And to stop it, he concludes, it is necessary "to prevent the sale of weapons to terrorist groups."

In a period of crisis and tension with the Old Continent, the president of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he shared "their pain" and expressed "solidarity" with the British people and government "to fight terrorism". Previously the Turkish leader had launched a new attack on Europe, saying that "the Europeans will not be able to walk safely through the streets of the world" if Europe "continues this way."