Did Sadiq Khan really say there is ‘no reason to be alarmed’ about terrorism as Donald Trump claims?

Monday 05 June 2017 15:04 BST

(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Donald Trump is repeating his criticism of Sadiq Khan, after London underwent a terror attack.

“At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack,” the president wrote on his Twitter account soon after the attack, “and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!’”

He then repeated that criticism in even stronger terms.

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Armed police on Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Police Officers outside the Barrowboy and Banker Public House on Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Armed police on Borough High Street as police deal with a 'major incident' at London Bridge

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Emergency services near the scene of the incident

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People run down Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Emergency services arrive at the scene near Borough market at London Bridge

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Emergency personnel on London Bridge as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Police sniffer dogs on London Bridge as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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A second helicopter lands on London Bridge as police are responding to three incidents in the capital, amid reports that a vehicle collided with pedestrians on London Bridge, Scotland Yard said. Officers are dealing with reports of stabbings in Borough Market, where armed officers attended and shots were fired. They are also at an incident in the Vauxhall area

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Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London

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Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London, Britain

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A police officer escorts members of the public to safety at London Bridge

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Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London, Britain

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Police attend to an incident near London Bridge in London, Britain

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"Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement," he wrote. "MSM is working hard to sell it!"

But Mr Trump's criticism is based on a quotation entirely removed from its context. He appears to be confused about what happened in part because Fox News repeated the same short quote but without the full remarks from the mayor of London.

What Mr Khan actually said was that there is no reason to be alarmed about the increased police presence on the streets after the attack.

“My message to Londoners and visitors to our great city is to be calm and vigilant today," Mr Khan said. "You will see an increased police presence today, including armed officers and uniformed officers.

"There is no reason to be alarmed by this. We are the safest global city in the world. You saw last night as a consequence of our planning, our preparation, the rehearsals that take place, the swift response from the emergency services tackling the terrorists and also helping the injured.”

Mr Khan has shrugged off the intense and repeated criticism from Mr Trump. A spokesperson said the mayor has "more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks".

Theresa May has refused to criticise Mr Trump's comments in particular, though said that Mr Khan had her full backing.

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