THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday joined other peace loving nations in condemning the latest terror attack on London.
“The Philippines strongly condemns the appalling terrorist attack in Westminster. It is not only an attack against the United Kingdom, but a direct assault on democracy,” the DFA said in a statement.
The Philippine post in London reported that no Filipino was hurt and assured they are closely monitoring the situation.
Reports has said five people died, including the assailant, and more than 40 were injured in Wednesday’s attack outside parliament, where a suspected Islamist-inspired man plowed into pedestrians with a car and then jumped out and stabbed a police officer.
“The Philippines stands in solidarity with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the wake of this unfortunate tragedy,” the DFA stated.
The DFA further said the Philippines joins the UK and its people in mourning the loss of innocent lives and praying for the immediate recovery of the injured victims.
“There is no justification for the horror and barbarity perpetrated by these elements,” the DFA statement added.
Police on Thursday identified the knife-wielding terrorist who killed four people near parliament in central London as British-born Khalid Masood and said they have arrested eight other people in connection with Wednesday’s attack.
The police said Masood, 52, was born in the county of Kent in southeast England and was most recently living in the West Midlands region of central England. He was shot dead by police at the scene of Wednesday’s attack for which the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility.
He plowed a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge on Wednesday afternoon, killing a man and woman and injuring about 40 others, before stabbing to death an unarmed police officer on the grounds of parliament.