ROME, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni led politicians in expressing grief Tuesday at the attack in Manchester which killed at least 22 people and injured 59 others.
The attack was reportedly carried out by a man who detonated an improvised explosive device at a concert of the young American singer Ariana Grande. Extremist group the Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the brutal attack.
In a letter to Queen Elizabeth II, Mattarella said "all of Italy is dismayed by the images that came from Manchester during the night," the message read. "The news of the involvement of very young boys and girls, victims of this senseless criminal violence while they were at the serene occasion of a concert, causes particular pain."
Gentiloni expressed his condolences via Twitter, writing in Italian that "Italy stands beside the British people and government. Our thoughts are with the victims of the Manchester attack and their families".
Gentiloni said that Monday's suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester was "an attack on the whole of Europe".
He also said a strong stance against terrorism is set to emerge at this week's G7 summit in Taormina, Sicily. "We are working at the moment so that a message of the strongest possible commitment against terrorism comes from the Taormina G7," he said.
"We have the occasion with which to reiterate together at Taormina that the cowardice of those who destroy the lives of young people will not prevail over our liberty".
According to ANSA news agency, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano tweeted a similar message. "Condolences and pain for what happened in Manchester," Alfano said.
"We are close to the British people, to the government, to the injured and to the families of the victims."
Former prime minister Matteo Renzi wrote a Facebook post saying that "sowing death in a concert among the young, where music should hold sway: what happened in Manchester breaks one's heart. Prayers and thoughts for the victims and their families, devastated by pain that begins today and will never end".
On Instagram, Renzi also posted a photo with a British flag and the caption: "our thoughts are with Manchester."
