NYPD commemorates Istanbul bombing victims in Times Square

NEW YORK

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The New York Police Department (NYPD) police on Dec. 17 attended a ceremony held in Times Square to commemorate the victims of last week’s twin bomb attacks in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district, which killed 44 people, mostly police officers, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

The group, holding pictures of police officer victims in the attack, lit candles and laid carnations at the square as part of the commemoration ceremony organized by the Independent Industrial and Business Association’s (MÜSİAD) U.S. branch (MÜSİAD US), the Turkish-American Media and Journalists Association (TAMJA), Cihannüma, the NYPD Muslim Officers Society (MOS), and the East Coast Turkish Association (ECTA).

NYPD MOS President Adeel Rana said they had gathered at the square to support their deceased Turkish colleagues and give messages of solidarity.

He said the department stood by their Turkish friends, highlighting “the need for the whole world to unite in the fight against terror.”

Ali Hammutoğlu, a Turkish-origin police officer in the NYPD, also extended his condolences to the relatives of Turkish police and soldiers who lost their lives in terror attacks. Hammutoğlu condemned the attack, stressing that they always stood with their Turkish colleagues who “sacrificed their lives for the unity of the state and the security of the public.”

MÜSİAD US President Mustafa Tuncer also called on the U.S. and all countries to support Turkey in its fight against terror. 

On Dec. 10, a car bomb went off outside Vodafone Arena stadium in Beşiktaş, two hours after the end of a match between Beşiktaş and Bursaspor. Seconds later, a suicide bomb attack occurred in Maçka Park just across from the stadium. The attack was claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), affiliated to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

A total of 44 people, including 37 police officers, were killed in the attack.