Italian leaders on Friday voiced
grief and support for France in the wake of yesterday's deadly
terror attack in Nice that killed at least 84 people.
President Sergio Mattarella mourned the Bastille Day
massacre and said Italy and the international community would
not give in to terror.
"The horror, the grief of France are our horror, our grief.
The dead in Nice, of whatever nationality, are our dead,"
Mattarella said.
"We will never give in to those who preach and practice the
culture of death," the president added.
"Along with...the entire international community (and)
especially the European Union, we will continue to affirm our
commitment against violence and terrorism and to uphold the
values of freedom, equality and brotherhood celebrated in France
on July 14".
Premier Matteo Renzi also expressed Italy's commitment to
standing with France.
"Today more than ever before, we stand with our brothers
across the Alps," the Italian premier said.
Terrorists "will never win" athough the images of the Nice
massacre "continue to reverberate in our heads and hurt us",
Renzi wrote in his online newsletter earlier in the day.
French and Italian flags flew at half-mast outside the
premier's office in Rome's Chigi Palace to in sign of mourning
and solidarity.
Civic flags were also flown at half-mast in Milan.
Rome city hall will be lit up with the colours of the
French flag on Friday night in solidarity with the victims.
Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi has sent messages of condolence to her
counterpart in the French Riviera city Philippe Prada and to the
French ambassador in Rome, Catherine Colonna.
Pope Francis on Friday expressed his solidarity with France
and the victims of Thursday evening's terrorist attack in Nice,
condemning "every manifestation of homicidal folly, hatred,
terrorism, and attacks against peace". "We have followed during
the night, with the greatest concern, the terrible news which
has come from Nice," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi
said.
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