Turkey condemns Manchester suicide attack

ANKARA

REUTERS photo

Turkish officials have condemned the suicide attack at a concert in Manchester, which claimed at least 22 lives and wounded 59 others.  

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he "strongly condemned" the attack during a speech at Istanbul University.

"We share the grief of the British government and its people," Erdoğan said.

"Like every country, I would like to stress that we stand with Britain in the fight against terrorism," he said.   

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım also condemned the attack during a news conference with his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Kvirikashvili.        
 
"We offer our condolences to our ally the United Kingdom, the victims' families and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured. We condemn this attack in the strongest possible words," Yıldırım said.        

"We know what terrorism can do, we paid a big price because of it. Terror is a global threat and should be dealt with globally," he added.      

Earlier, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu condemned the attack.

"I condemn the terrorist attack in Manchester. Sincere condolences to the British government and the people,” Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Twitter.

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on May 23 condemning the attack in the British city. 

“We offer our deepest condolences to the United Kingdom and its people on behalf of our country and our people, who unfortunately know and feel the sorrows of such brutal assaults organized by inhuman powers,” the statement said.

Turkey will continue the determined and effective struggle carried out by its ally United Kingdom, the ministry said. 

“Thank so much for messages of condolence for #Manchester from Turkish friends. Deeply appreciated,” British Ambassador to Ankara Richard Moore said in his Twitter account. 

Presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın also condemned the attack.

“We strongly condemn the terror attack in #Manchester and express our deep condolences. Turkey and the United Kingdom will continue their joint and resolute fight against terrorism in all of its forms,” Kalın tweeted.

EU Minister Ömer Çelik also condemned the Manchester attack.

“We condemn the terror attack in Manchester. It is an inhuman and brutal attack,” Çelik tweeted.

Thousands of fans streamed out of a concert by U.S. singer Ariana Grande on May 22 after the attacker detonated the explosives shortly after 10:33 pm (21:33 GMT) at Manchester Arena, which has the capacity to hold 21,000 people. Children were among the dead, U.K. police said.