Thousands of Turkish football fans march to condemn Beşiktaş terror attack

ISTANBUL

AA Photo

Thousands of Turkish football fans marched on Dec. 12 in condemnation of the Dec. 10 twin bombings in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district, which claimed 44 lives and wounded hundreds.

Supporters from a number of football clubs across the country gathered in the center of Beşiktaş at 7 p.m. before marching toward the team’s home stadium Vodafone Arena, which was the scene of the deadly attacks.

Chanting anti-terror slogans, supporters prayed for the victims of the attack, mostly police officers, at the scene. A group of Bursaspor supporters also placed carnations outside the stadium where the attack was carried out, hours after their team played against Beşiktaş.

The two-hour demonstration ended after the group issued a press release.

On Dec. 10, a bomb-laden vehicle ran into riot police outside the stadium following a match between Beşiktaş and Bursaspor. Only 45 seconds later, a suicide bomber blew himself up at Maçka Park just across the stadium. A total of 37 police officers and seven civilians were killed in the bombings.