GOP presidential candidates respond to Brussels attacks with anti-Muslim rhetoric

Republican presidential candidates reacted to the deadly blasts in Brussels that killed at least 34 people and were claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group with calls for police patrols of Muslim neighbourhoods and a ban on Syrian refugees coming to the US.

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz said that police forces should monitor Muslim neighbourhoods in US cities.

"We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighbourhoods before they become radicalised," said a statement released by the Cruz campaign.

Cruz also said politicians had “tried to deny this enemy exists out of a combination of political correctness and fear,” and claimed that the influx of refugees in Europe had caused its security to deteriorate. 

He said he saw the attacks as the result of “a toxic mix of migrants who have been infiltrated by terrorists and isolated, radical Muslim neighborhoods”.

Cruz also called for suspending the resettlement of refugees from countries where the Islamic State group or al-Qaeda control territory, saying the administration's plans to bring in tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing the civil war there "makes no sense".

Frontrunner Donald Trump also repeated his call for closing US borders "until we figure out what's going on" - a call Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton said was unrealistic.

Cruz’s rhetoric instigated a backlash online, where some have said that he is playing on people’s fear.

In an interview with the New York Times on Tuesday, Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), called Cruz a “religious zealot”.

“He wants to bring to our memories checkpoints in the streets. That’s really going to be similar to third-world countries and to what happened in Nazi Germany.”

Republican frontrunner Donald Trump echoed Cruz’s sentiments. "Brussels is a total mess,'' Trump told NBC news on Tuesday. "They're just a city that used to be one of the finest and one of the most beautiful and one of the safest cities in the world, and now it's a catastrophic, very dangerous city where the police have very little control."

"Belgium is no longer Belgium,'' he added. "Belgium is a horror show right now. This all happened because frankly there's no assimilation. They are not assimilating for whatever reason. They don't want laws that we have, they want Sharia Law, and you say to yourself, at what point, how much of this do you take?”

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, the two Democratic candidates in the race, tweeted out condolences for the victims and messages of assurance to the Muslim-American community.

President Barack Obama also condemned the attacks on Tuesday, and described the bombings as "outrageous" and pledged support in apprehending the attackers.

"The thoughts and the prayers of the American people are with the people of Belgium," Obama said. "We stand in solidarity with them, condemning these outrageous attacks against innocent people."

"We will do whatever is necessary to support our friend and ally Belgium in bringing to justice those who are responsible," Obama said. "This is yet another reminder that the world must unite. We must be together regardless of nationality or race or faith, fighting against the scourge of terrorism. We can and we will defeat those who threaten the safety and security of people all around the world."