WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump linked a jump in reported crime in Britain to terrorism Friday, again wading deep into a sensitive political debate on the other side of the pond.
“Just out report: ‘United Kingdom crime rises 13 percent annually amid spread of Radical Islamic terror.’ Not good, we must keep America safe!” Trump said.
The early morning tweet came as Britain’s statistical office reported a rise in reported crime in England and Wales in the first six months of the year.
The report stated that much of the increase may be due to changes in the way crime statistics are recorded.
Trump has repeatedly pointed to terror attacks in Europe as evidence of the risk from militant groups in the US.
At home he has championed a ban on travelers from several predominantly Muslim countries.
But his pronouncements on terrorism in Britain have strained ties with London and put a planned state visit to Britain on ice.
Last month Prime Minister Theresa May publicly rebuked Trump for speculating on the causes of a botched London train bombing.
Trump also prompted fury for criticizing London’s Muslim mayor Sadiq Khan, after a June attack at London Bridge.
Some members of Parliament reacted angrily to Trump’s latest foray into British political debate.
Conservative Nicholas Soames — Winston Churchill’s grandson — described Trump as a “twerp” and suggested he focus on fixing US gun laws.
Labour’s Chris Bryant tweeted “Can you please stick out of our business with such divisiveness? You clearly don’t understand the difference between causation and correlation.”
Trump links jump in UK crime rate to terror
Trump links jump in UK crime rate to terror
Debris removal steps up at Karachi fire-hit plaza as death toll nears 60
- KMC teams remove debris under safety precautions as search for the missing continues
- Authorities are keeping agencies on alert amid rain forecast as the site remains unstable
ISLAMABAD: Municipal and rescue teams stepped up debris removal operations at a fire-hit shopping plaza in Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi on Wednesday, as officials said the death toll from the blaze has climbed to nearly 60 and the search for missing victims continues.
Teams from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) are clearing rubble from Gul Plaza, a multi-story shopping complex where a fire broke out late Saturday, under strict safety measures, with debris being transported to a designated ground in the city’s Meva Shah area, an official statement said.
“Rescue teams are continuously engaged in search and clearance operations to locate any remaining victims,” the statement circulated by the KMC said, adding that authorities were aiming to complete the process as soon as possible while ensuring safety.
Located in Karachi’s densely populated Saddar district, the fire at Gul Plaza burned for more than 24 hours before being brought under control. The blaze gutted more than 1,200 shops, triggered partial structural collapse and left dozens of people trapped inside.
With rain forecast in the coming days, authorities have placed all relevant departments on alert and are making contingency preparations to prevent further risks at the site, the KMC statement said.
The disaster at the shopping mall has renewed scrutiny of fire safety standards in Karachi’s commercial buildings, where overcrowding, illegal construction and weak enforcement have repeatedly contributed to deadly incidents.
Following the Gul Plaza fire, the Sindh Building Control Authority has warned developers and building owners to address fire safety violations or face legal action.
Deadly fires remain a recurring threat in the city of more than 20 million people, despite periodic crackdowns ordered after major disasters.
