Donald Trump slams Mayor of London Sadiq Khan over terror attack

 

President Donald Trump appeared to hit out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan in the wake of the capital's terror attack.

Following the atrocity, Mr Trump wrote: "At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed!'"

He seemed to be referring to Mr Khan's earlier statement that "Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. There's no reason to be alarmed".

Strongly condemning the attack in London Bridge and Borough Market, the mayor appealed to people to remain vigilant, while at the same time assuring them that the capital is "one of the safest global cities in the world."

In response, a spokesperson for the London Mayor said Mr Khan "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," the spokesperson said.

Mr Trump also tweeted about political correctness and brought gun control into the debate, in light of the fact the attackers "used knives and a truck".

Earlier in the day, the President had sent a tweet following initial reports of the attack, telling the UK that Americans "are with you" and "we need to be smart, vigilant and tough".

But he was criticised for turning attention back to the US and his immigration crackdown by adding: "We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!"

He went on to say: "Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the UK, we will be there."

He also retweeted an early unconfirmed report on the attack from a US news aggregation website.

Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell called the President's opportunistic tweet "classless", writing: "Merkel, @EmmanuelMacron make well pitched reactions to London attacks @potus relies on unconfirmed reports to promote travel ban #classless".

The US state department has said that America "condemns the cowardly attacks" and was "ready to assist".

Theresa May said there is far too much tolerance of extremism in the UK and it is time to be more robust in tackling it.

Speaking in Downing Street following the atrocity, the Prime Minister said it was time to say "enough is enough".