ROME -- The Sant Egidio Community have appealed for solidarity and European unity, following the attacks in Brussels on Tuesday.  They lament the causalities and send their condolences to the families, “In these moments of grief the first thoughts go the victims, the wounded, and their families; so badly affected and tested by the suicidal madness of the terrorists.”

 They call for Europe, and all those cities that have been affected by terrorism to stand together to embody peace and not to resort to violence in retaliation, “After Paris, Beirut, Bamako, Ouagadougou, Grand Bassam, Istanbul, Tunis, amongst all the other cities, it was the turn of the European capital, which embodies the hopes of unity and peace.  Terror wants to hurt the living and the dream of uniting countries and peoples. It wants to pollute the social climate, instilling fear, causing us to react according to violent logic that feeds hatred and separation.”

 Another point they make is the importance of unity; “We must not give in to those designs. We will stay united. Only the union, the one dreamed of by the founding fathers of Europe, can preserve our life and our future.”

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