By KUNA,
Tokyo : Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Thursday strongly condemned a series of attacks in Mumbai, which killed nearly 100 people, including a Japanese businessman.
In a statement, Aso said the attacks were contemptible and vicious and such terrorism will never be forgiven.
“Japan is standing alongside India’s fight against terrorism, and will offer cooperation,” he said, expressing his condolences to the victims and their bereaved families, as well as its deepest sympathy for the people who were injured.
The government also set up a liaison office at the crisis management center in the premier’s office to gather information and coordinate a response to the incident.
Hisashi Tsuda, 38, a salesperson of Japan’s Mitsui Marubeni Liquefied Gas Co., was killed when he was about to check-in to a hotel in Mumbai with his Japanese colleague, who was injured in the attacks, their company confirmed in Tokyo.
The two employees, arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday for a seven-day inspection tour, were with their five clients when the shooting occurred. The five were unharmed, it said.
In a separate statement, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said, “Japan condemns terrorism in any form or manifestation and reiterates our stance that there can be no justification, whatsoever, for any acts of terrorism,” expressing hope for the earliest possible release and rescue of those taken hostage.