Obama
condemns 'outrageous' attacks in Paris
'This
is not just an attack on Paris…but this is an attack on all of
humanity and the universal values that we all share,' the president
said.
By SARAH WHEATON and
ELIZA COLLINS 11/13/15 05:59 PM EST Updated 11/13/15 06:51 PM EST
President Barack
Obama condemned Friday night’s attacks in Paris as an “outrageous
attempt to terrorize innocent civilians.”
"This is an
attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of
France," Obama told reporters at the White House, “but this is
an attack on all humanity an the universal values that we share.”
Obama continued, "We
stand prepared and ready to provide whatever assistance that the
government and the people of France need to respond" to the
attacks, which left dozens dead in mulitple locations. About 100
hostages were in custody in a theater, according to the Associated
Press and other news reports.
Shortly before
Obama’s remarks, the White House announced that he had been briefed
by Lisa Monaco, his top counterterrorism adviser. Though he called
the attacks an act of terrorism, Obama declined to speculate on who
might be responsible.
But Obama vowed to
"do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with
nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice, and to
go after any terrorist networks that go after our people."
Obama said he had
not spoken to President Francois Hollande since the attack, assuming
his French counterpart is busy with the response. Coincidentally,
Obama spoke with Hollande by telephone earlier on Friday to discuss
climate talks slated for next month in Paris.
"Obviously
those of us here in the United States know what it’s like,"
Obama said. "Whenever these kinds of attacks happened, we’ve
always been able to count on the French people to stand with us."
Late Friday,
Hollande announced a state of emergency in France and said borders
were being closed.
Hollande said that
the terrorists' goal was “to make us afraid, to seize us with
fear.” While he acknowledged there was cause to be afraid it was
important to note “faced with this fear there is a nation that
defends itself and mobilizes itself.”
“I’m asking here
for you to maintain your trust in what the security forces can do,”
Hollande said, according to a translation of his remarks.
President Obama's
schedule released after his remarks on Friday showed he plans to
leave for Turkey as scheduled on Saturday afternoon.
Secretary of State
John Kerry said the U.S. embassy was in the process of locating
Americans who were abroad.
“Our embassy in
Paris is making every effort to account for the welfare of American
citizens in the city,” Kerry said in a statement. “We stand with
the French people tonight, as our peoples have always stood together
in our darkest hours. These terrorist attacks will only deepen our
shared resolve.”
At the U.S. Capitol
Friday night, police said they have enhanced security, though there
is no known threat.
The U.S. Capitol
Police are monitoring events in Paris as well as getting real-time
intelligence updates to maintain awareness of global events. Enhanced
patrols throughout the Capitol Campus may be observed, conducted out
of an abundance of caution. There is currently no known threat to the
Capitol Complex.
U.S. presidential
candidates on both sides offered thoughts and prayers, calling the
attacks “heartbreaking” “horrifying” and “horrible.”
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário