Sen. Ted Cruz blamed an "extreme strain of Islam" for Tuesday'sterrorist attacks in Brussels, which saw at least 34 killed and 170 injured after two explosions hit the Belgian capital.
Cruz also argued in a statement that the attacks are not "isolated incidents." The two attacks took place outside of the Brussels airport and the Maelbeek metro station near the European Union less than a week after Salah Abdesalah, the terrorist behind the Paris attacks in November, was captured.
"Our hearts break for the men and women of Brussels this morning," Cruz said in a post on Facebook. "Make no mistake — these terror attacks are no isolated incidents. They are just the latest in a string of coordinated attacks by radical Islamic terrorists perpetrated those who are waging war against all who do not accept their extreme strain of Islam."
"Radical Islam is at war with us. For over seven years we have had a president who refuses to acknowledge this reality. And the truth is, we can never hope to defeat this evil so long as we refuse to even name it," Cruz said. "That ends on January 20, 2017, when I am sworn in as president. We will name our enemy — radical Islamic terrorism. And we will defeat it."
Ohio Gov. John Kasich also released a statement on the attacks, saying he was "sickened" by what took place.