The Lord Mayor of Chester has written to express the deepest sympathies of the city to the people of France following the ‘unspeakable’ terror attack in Nice yesterday (Thursday, July 14).
Cllr Angela Claydon has sent a letter to Monsieur Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice, after at least 84 people, including children, were killed when a lorry ploughed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day.
And books of condolence have been opened at Chester Town Hall today (Friday), flags have been lowered to half mast and candles have been lit in memory of those who lost their lives or were injured on Thursday.
Cllr Claydon wrote in her letter: “It is with pain and sorrow that I must once again write and express the deepest condolences on behalf of the City of Chester to the people of France, especially those affected in Nice by the heinous attack which unfolded on Thursday evening.
“Words cannot express what your town must be feeling in these painful hours.
“This attack, on families, children, and innocent people, happened on your national holiday, a day which should have been a celebration and not become a day of national mourning.
“The City of Chester is united with you in your grief and in your country’s determination to defeat terrorism.
“We as a city, and as a nation, will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends and neighbours in France and other countries to both confront and ultimately defeat those who would wish to attack our liberty, freedom of expression and our democracies.
“This attack was utterly intolerable and cruel on humanity.”
Cllr Claydon praised the French emergency services and individuals who came to the aid of the injured and dying and those who put their own lives at risk to try to stop the attack.
She added: “Our thoughts are with those families in France, including Nice, Paris, and so many other countries across the globe who have lost family members and friends in recent terrorist attacks.
“The City of Chester is united with you in your grief, and in all our determination to defeat terrorism.
“Those who attack our democracy, freedom and tolerance will never win.”
