Donald Trump: Police 'afraid for their lives' in 'radicalised' London
- 8 December 2015
- From the section London
Comments by US presidential hopeful Donald Trump that parts of London are "so radicalised the police are afraid for their lives" have been attacked as outrageous and appalling.
The Republican nomination contender made the remarks in a TV interview, following his call for Muslims to be banned from entering the US.
He also said Paris is "no longer the same city it was".
The mayor of London said the comments were "complete and utter nonsense".
Boris Johnson said the remarks were ill-informed.
'Outrageous and dangerous'
"As a city where more than 300 languages are spoken, London has a proud history of tolerance and diversity and to suggest there are areas where police officers cannot go because of radicalisation is simply ridiculous," he said.
Mr Johnson said police officers were doing "excellent work" in London.
"Crime has been falling steadily both in London and in New York - the only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump," he added.
Mr Trump was also attacked by Labour candidate for London mayor Sadiq Khan, who said the billionaire "can't just be dismissed as a buffoon - his comments are outrageous, divisive and dangerous".
Conservative mayor candidate Zac Goldsmith said Mr Trump was "an appalling creature... one of the most malignant figures in politics".
Poll ratings
Asked on MSNBC if Muslims were needed in the effort to help confront terrorism, Mr Trump said: "If you look at Paris - and I hate to do this, the chamber of commerce is gonna go crazy - Paris is no longer the same city it was.
"They have sections in Paris that are radicalised - police refuse to go in there. They're petrified.
"We have places in London and other places that are so radicalised the police are afraid for their own lives."
The BBC's Anthony Zurcher, in Washington, says Mr Trump's poll ratings have risen after other hardline statements.
In January, US broadcaster Fox News was forced to issue an on-air apology for televising a claim that Birmingham was a "Muslim-only city" where non-Muslims "don't go".