Gordon Brown condemns attack on Pakistan mosque

Gordon Brown said Britain is standing 'shoulder to shoulder' with Pakistan
12 April 2012

Britain stood "shoulder to shoulder" with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, Gordon Brown said today in the wake of an attack on a mosque which killed at least 26 people.

Several militants are believed to have triggered an explosion at an army checkpoint before forcing their way into the mosque in the city of Rawalpindi during prayers and attacking the congregation with guns and grenades. At least 20 people were injured.

In a letter of condolence to Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari, Mr Brown condemned the outrage as a "heinous attack".

The Prime Minister wrote: "I was very sorry to hear about the terrible attacks in Rawalpindi this morning.

"My condolences go out to the victims of this heinous attack and their families.

"The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan in confronting the menace of terrorism."

The attack follows a meeting at 10 Downing Street between Mr Brown and Pakistan's prime minister Raza Gilani yesterday, at which the struggle against violent extremism topped the agenda.

Mr Brown urged Pakistan to do more to hunt down the leaders of the al Qaida terror network, including Osama bin Laden.

But Mr Gilani insisted bin Laden was not in Pakistan and that his security forces had been "extremely successful" in tackling terrorists within its borders.

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