MESSAGES of support for Reading and outpourings of grief for the victims of Saturday’s terror attack have come in from all across the world in the past few days.
At the first meeting of Reading Borough Council’s top team following the attack, leader Jason Brock revealed namesake authority the City of Reading, in Pennsylvania, United States, had held a minute’s silence at their first council meeting since the incident.
Cllr Brock also told colleagues messages of support had been received from Reading’s sister city, Dusseldorf, in Germany, which have been twinned since 1988.
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The German town’s mayor, Lord Mayor Geisel, said: “My thoughts are with the families of the victims.
“The news of the suspected terror attack with three dead and three seriously injured in the English twin city of Reading has been received with dismay in the City of Düsseldorf.
"I am in consternation about the news from our twin city.
“Three people have fallen victim to a terrible crime. Even while we do not yet know all the details, we must for the time being assume that it is a cowardly terror attack on innocent people.
“My thoughts are with the families of the victims. I am going to send a personal message to the Mayor of Reading, Councillor David Stevens."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke soon after the stabbings to condemn the town’s “appalling incident” and soon after his message was followed by fellow world leader French President Emmanuel Macron.
In a tweet, Mr Macron wrote: “Our thoughts are with the victims of the Reading attack, their families and loved ones, and with all the British people.
“France will always stand with the United Kingdom to combat the scourge of terrorism.”
Media attention from all parts of the globe drew drawn sharp attention to last week’s tragic events.
Breaking news reports from the United States’ Wall Street Journal, New York Times and CNN, live broadcasts outside Abbey Gate from Australian media giants and TV bulletins from Japan were just some examples of worldwide coverage of the terror attack.
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