President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have written to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Theresa May respectively to express their condolences on the extremist attack on Muslims on Monday (June 19) and the Grenfell Tower fire in London last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.
The letters are reproduced below:
Letter from President Tony Tan Keng Yam to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
20 June 2017
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
Your Majesty,
I was appalled by the attack in Finsbury Park on 19 June 2017 when innocent worshippers were leaving a nearby mosque after the evening prayers. Attacks that target specific communities and could divide societies deserve our strongest condemnation. More than ever, the attack reminds us that efforts to strengthen inter-racial and inter-religious harmony are needed.
On behalf of the people of Singapore, I send our deepest condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the casualties of the attack in Finsbury Park, as well as those who suffered at the dreadful fire in Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017 which claimed many lives and destroyed numerous homes.
Yours sincerely,
TONY TAN KENG YAM
Letter from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May
20 June 2017
Dear Prime Minister,
I am shocked and saddened by the heinous attack in Finsbury Park on 19 June 2017, after evening prayers during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Actions motivated by communal and religious hatred, which will incite tensions between different communities cannot be tolerated. Crimes inspired by Islamophobia must be condemned, just as much as extremist jihadist terrorism. We stand in solidarity with the United Kingdom to condemn this horrific act and bring its perpetrators to justice.
I also read with sadness the tragic fire that broke out in Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017. The scale of the disaster shocked the world, even one jaded by news of misfortunes and tragedies.
My deepest condolences go out to the families of the innocent victims of the Finsbury Park attack and the Grenfell Tower fire. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of the United Kingdom during these difficult times.
Yours sincerely,
LEE HSIEN LOONG
