Erdoğan says Istanbul nightclub attack sought to create chaos in Turkey

Erdoğan says Istanbul nightclub attack sought to create chaos in Turkey

ANKARA
Erdoğan says Istanbul nightclub attack sought to create chaos in Turkey

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Jan. 1’s attack by an armed assailant who stormed a popular nightclub in Istanbul, killing 39 people during New Year celebrations, sought to create chaos in Turkey.
“Those aiming at the peace of our nation, and their pawns, are working to destabilize our country and trigger chaos by demoralizing our people through their heinous attacks that also target civilians,” Erdoğan said in a statement on the presidency website. 

“However, we, as the nation, will never give passage to these dirty games, further uniting together and preserving our calmness.”

Erdoğan said the “brutal attack” in Istanbul clearly showed that terror does not discriminate but “aims to shed blood, claims lives and hurt people,” vowing that Turkey would continue its fight against terrorism.

“We are aware that these attacks, carried out by various terror organizations against our country, are not independent from incidents happening in our region,” he added.

”We are determined to eradicate threats and attacks against our country at their source.”

Erdoğan said the fight against terrorism, and “the powers behind them,” will continue with determination.

“Every single life we lose in this process makes our hearts bleed, but at the same time, further sharpens our perseverance and determination to struggle.

“As the country and nation, we will fight against not only armed attacks of terror organizations and the powers behind them, but also against their economic, political and social attacks, to the end”