Envoys mourn attack on Pakistan pupils

London’s diplomatic community expressed its outrage at the Peshawar massacre in which the Taliban murdered more than 130 children.

Taking to Twitter, US Ambassador Matthew Barzun said he was “sickened and horrified” by the killing of innocents, and that “the world was more united than ever to end this evil.”

Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko called the killings “a barbaric terrorist attack” and Cyprus High Commissioner Euripides Evriviades called the murders “pure evil”.

A steady stream of heads of mission visited the Lowndes Square High Commission to sign the Condolence Book. High Commissioner Syed Ibne Abbas held a candlelit vigil outside the High Commission, attended by hundreds of members of the Pakistani community.

Addressing the crowds he said he was “really touched” by the show of solidarity, adding: “This barbaric act will further strengthen our resolve to get rid of the forces of darkness. The entire nation stands united and the government would go after these terrorists, whatever it takes.”