Saudi Arabia condemns Copenhagen, Chapel Hill attacks

The Kingdom called for "the need to respect religions" and to avoid "incitement against Muslims"

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned this weekend's fatal attacks in Copenhagen and the murders last week of three Muslim students in the United States as "terrorist" acts.

"Saudi Arabia has followed with deep sorrow the terrorist, criminal, and ugly acts that took place recently in the Danish capital Copenhagen and the US state of North Carolina," authorities said in an official statement on the Saudi Press Agency.

The kingdom, home to Islam's holiest sites, called for "the need to respect religions" and to avoid "incitement against Muslims," the statement said.

The attacks in Denmark saw a 55-year-old man killed at a panel discussion about Islam and free speech on Saturday and a young Jewish man killed outside Copenhagen's main synagogue early Sunday.

The US attack saw three Muslim students shot dead in the North Carolina university town of Chapel Hill on Tuesday, allegedly at the hands of a neighbour who railed against religion.

Some have accused Western media and politicians of not responding quickly enough to the deaths of the three students, saying there is a double standard when Muslims are the victims of violence.