Qatar condemns deadly attacks in France, Lebanon

Photo for illustrative purposes only.
Photo for illustrative purposes only.

With reporting from Chantelle D’mello

Updated at 8pm with statement from French Embassy in Qatar.

Calling last night’s attacks on several public venues in Paris “heinous,” Qatar’s foreign minister has condemned the violence. In a statement, his ministry said:

“Such acts aimed at destabilizing security contradict with all moral and humanitarian principles and values.”

Pandemonium erupted in the French capital yesterday evening after unidentified killers targeted crowded restaurants and bars, a popular concert hall and a football stadium where President Francois Hollande was attending a match.

More than 140 people are now dead, in what Hollande called an unprecedented terrorist attack against the country. The government has now closed its borders and declared a state of emergency.

For its part, Qatar Embassy in Paris this morning has advised any nationals in the French capital to stay indoors unless in the case of an emergency.

In a series of tweets in Arabic, the embassy also issued an emergency hotline number for those concerned about friends and family who may be in the city.

Meanwhile, major cities in the US have also been put on “high alert” for any potential attacks. Several buildings in the country have lit up in red, white and blue to express solidarity for France.

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The attacks come less than a year after masked gunmen stormed the newsroom of  a satirical newspaper in France, killing a dozen people in January.

Beirut bombings

More recently, the violence in France also follows twin suicide bombings in Lebanon’s capital, which killed 43 people yesterday and wounded more than 230 others.

A Lebanese security official said the first suicide attacker detonated his explosives’ vest outside a mosque, while the second blew himself up inside a nearby bakery.

The country declared a national day of mourning after the attacks, which were against Shia Muslims and claimed by ISIL, Al Jazeera reports.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry have also denounced those acts as “contrary to all human values.”

In a statement, MOFA warned that such violence “would drag the region into chaos and instability,” and called on Lebanese political leaders to protect their country and people.

Reaction

In Qatar, there has been an outpouring of support for the French and a condemnation of last night’s attacks.

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Speaking to Doha News, French embassy officials said the flag would be lowered to half mast later today because of the tragedy.

In a statement an Embassy spokesperson said the Doha branch of the Institut Francais, which promotes French language and culture, would be closed “in mourning” from tomorrow (Nov. 15) for three days.

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