The following statement is primarily to express, on behalf of the Government of Catalonia, our utmost condemnation of the criminal attack that has occurred in these last hours in the city of Nice, on France’s Côte d'Azur, which has shaken the entire world and particularly the Catalan people.

 

It is also to convey our solidarity and friendship with the French nation, and especially with the people of Nice, our friends and neighbours, who have once again been the target of a criminal and bloody terrorist attack.

 

I would also like to express our desire to cooperate with French institutions and police in this fight, a fight that we consider also as our own and one we are a part of, with all our capabilities, resources and with the professionalism of the Mossos d’Esquadra police force. Since this morning, they have been taking part in the Terrorist Threat Assessment Board, convened by the Ministry of Interior, and in the Counterterrorism Coordination Cabinet meeting, which I just have come from presiding over and is currently still underway.

 

In this sense, we are doing everything correctly and will put this good work at the service of the global fight against terrorism.

 

I would like to reiterate the commitment and resolve of the Mossos d’Esquadra in this fight and convey our conviction to the citizens of Catalonia that the Mossos have been working to neutralize and assess the risk and overthrow any potential threats. In this regard, once this morning’s meeting finishes, the Minister of Home Affairs will hold a briefing regarding the matter; numerous actions will be strengthened throughout the summer, taking into account the operation that has been explained.

 

Finally, I would like to add the voice of the Catalan people to the voices around the world, those democratic countries, the countries that want to live in peace, that want to have a fraternal relationship with their neighbours, the countries that respect religious and cultural diversity,  and declare, unequivocally, that they will not defeat us. They will not break our unity; they will not drive us away from our commitment or our support with the nations that are being the victims of terrorism. France’s pain is also the pain of Catalonia.