President Sergio Mattarella and
Premier Paolo Gentiloni led Italian politicians in expressing
grief Tuesday at the attack the previous night on a concert in
Manchester that killed at least 22 people and injured 59.
The attack was reportedly carried on by a man who detonated
an improvised explosive device at a concert of the young
American singer of Italian descent Ariana Grande.
The performer has a large following among teenage girls and
children and many minors were among the casualties.
Gentiloni expressed his condolences via Twitter, writing in
Italian that "Italy stands beside the British people and
government. Our thoughts are with the victims of the Manchester
attack and their families".
Mattarella on Tuesday sent Queen Elizabeth II a message
following Monday's suicide attack on a concert in Manchester.
"All of Italy is dismayed by the images that came from
Manchester during the night," the message read.
"The news of the involvement of very young boys and girls,
victims of this senseless criminal violence while they were at
the serene occasion of a concert, causes particular pain".
Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano tweeted a similar message.
"Condolences and pain for what happened in Manchester,"
Alfano said.
"We are close to the British people, to the government, to
the injured and to the families of the victims".
Former prime minister and head of the Democratic Party (PD)
Matteo Renzi wrote a Facebook post saying that "sowing death in
a concert among the young, where music should hold sway: what
happened in Manchester breaks one's heart. Prayers and thoughts
for the victims and their families, devastated by pain that
begins today and will never end".
On Instagram, Renzi also posted a photo with a British flag
and the caption: "our thoughts are with Manchester".
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