Tragedy crushed a moment of triumph for competitors in Monday's Boston Marathon, and devastated the crowds who came to cheer them on. What should have been a celebration of a diverse group of elite athletes and enthusiasts turned to horror when two bombs exploded, seconds apart, killing at least three people and wounding more than 140 others.
The perpetrators of this outrage are unknown, and nobody should jump to conclusions about possible culprits or motives. Nevertheless, the people of this region are no strangers to senseless violence; the UAE and the entire Middle East mourn in solidarity with the people of Boston and beyond.
Today's interconnected world means that pain suffered in one corner of the planet is felt in every other. About 10 UAE residents were registered in the race, and many Emiratis and children of expatriates attend universities in or near the city. Moreover, the US and the UAE are close allies, a fact underscored by a two-day official visit to the US by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which began yesterday.
Washington and Abu Dhabi have long stood together, and with the global community, in the battle against terrorism. The Boston bombings prove that terror can strike anywhere, at any time. But its victims are never alone.
