Donald Trump claims Muslims worldwide were 'going wild' after 9/11 attacks

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Sarasota, Florida on Nov 28, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

MIAMI (AFP) - United States Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump ramped up his incendiary rhetoric on Saturday (Nov 28), claiming that Muslims around the world were "going wild" to cheer the Sept 11, 2001 attacks.

Earlier this month, the real-estate tycoon invited scrutiny after saying that Arab and Muslim Americans had celebrated the terror strikes. He also voiced support for a database to track Muslims in the country.

But at the weekend rally in Sarasota, Florida, Trump took it a step further.

"Everybody admits that worldwide, the Muslims were absolutely going wild," Trump told a crowd of supporters.

In fact, several Arab and Muslim leaders - including late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi - condemned the attacks at the time.

A 2008 Gallup poll found that only 7 per cent of Muslims around the world said the 9/11 attacks were "completely" justified and viewed the United States unfavourably.

In his speech, Mr Trump also again denied mocking a disabled New York Times reporter when he apparently imitated his jerking arm movements.

"I would never mock a person that has a disability," Mr Trump said. "I'm telling you, I would never do it."

Video had shown the 69-year-old appearing to question the credentials of Pulitzer prize-winning reporter Serge Kovaleski, who suffers from congenital arthrogryposis, which interferes with movement of the limbs.

Mr Trump had cited an article by the reporter in The Washington Post saying the authorities had detained "a number" of people allegedly seen cheering on rooftops in New Jersey after the 9/11 attacks on the other side of the river from New York's destroyed World Trade Center towers.

There was no indication in the article of thousands or even hundreds of Muslims cheering, as Mr Trump has claimed he has witnessed.

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