UAE condemns "heinous terrorist crime" on French soldier at Louvre Museum

The United Arab Emirate (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Abu Dhabi condemned on Friday "in the strongest possible terms the heinous terrorist crime" in which a French soldier was stabbed at the entrance of the Louvre Museum at downtown Paris, UAE state news agency WAM reported.

The soldier was injured during the attack. While strongly condemning this hideous crime, "the UAE affirms its full solidarity with the friendly French Republic in these circumstances and expresses its support for whatever measures France may take to preserve its security and safety of its citizens and residents," WAM quoted a statement issued by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Friday.

"We confirm our religious values and our human stance which absolutely reject extremism, terrorism and crimes committed against innocent people," it added.

The ministry called on the international community to intensify joint efforts to counter the challenge of extremism and terrorism which poses a common threat which does not discriminate between a country and another. "Terrorism should be completely eradicated because it targets safety, security and stability of the world," it emphasized.

A French soldier on Friday shot and wounded a man armed with a machete after he tried to enter the Louvre Museum in central Paris. Endit