World leaders condemn Istanbul car bomb attack

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

Leaders from around the world have condemned a car bomb attack in central Istanbul on June 7 that killed 11 and wounded another 36.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg “firmly condemned” the June 7 attack, saying in a statement that NATO stands in “solidarity with Turkey” against the “scourge” of terrorism.

“Terrorism seeks to undermine the very values that the North Atlantic Alliance stands for: Democracy, individual liberty, human rights, and the rule of law. It can never be tolerated or justified,” Stoltenberg added.        
The European Union also released a statement following the blast, extending its “sincere condolences” to the families and friends of people who were killed in the attack. 

“As the European Union, we reiterate our continuing solidarity to Turkey, its government and its people and reaffirm our commitment to work closely together to fight the global threat of terrorism,” the statement said.

According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was “horrified” by reports of the attack during a joint press conference with Azerbaijan President İlham Aliyev.

“Germany stands with Turkey in the fight against terror,” Merkel told reporters. 

French President Francois Hollande also condemned the attack as an “intolerable act of violence” which should “more than confirm our mutual determination to fight all forms of terrorism.” 

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass called the attack “heinous,” vowing to stand with Turkey in its fight with terrorism.

“We condemn this heinous attack, and continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Turkey in the fight against terrorism,” Bass said in a statement issued on the embassy’s Twitter account.

U.K. Ambassador to Ankara Richard Moore also expressed his condolences.

“Shocked by the loss of life on streets of Istanbul again today from another bomb attack. Thoughts with families of those killed and with the injured,” Moore tweeted.

In a message posted on his Twitter account, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond described the attack as “senseless,” saying his thoughts are with those who suffered in the blast. 

“Thoughts with the victims of today’s #Istanbul bomb attack. The UK utterly condemns this senseless and appalling act of violence,” Hammond’s post read.

In addition, Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland stated that the attacks targeted humanity’s values.

“Again a deadly attack in Istanbul has killed and injured so many innocent people in the nation’s largest city. I am devastated by the news and cannot but repeat that these ruthless attacks are attacks on our values – on us all. I express my deepest sympathy and condolences to the families, the people and state of Turkey,” Jagland said in a statement.

The German Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on its Twitter account, saying it condemned the attack and expressing sympathy for the families and friends of the victims.

The Spainish Foreign Ministry “strongly” condemned the terror attack in a written statement and conveyed its condolences to Turkey, while Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its condemnation of “all forms and manifestations” of terrorism.  

“As always, Pakistan stands in strong solidarity with the fraternal people of Turkey and is sure in its belief that they will succeed in their resolute fight against terrorism and will defeat this scourge decisively,” the statement said.       

Azerbaijani President İlham Aliyev sent a message of condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, expressing his condolences.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack, saying the country supported all measures to preserve Turkey’s security and stability.

Meanwhile, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also sent her condolences to Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş.

“Istanbul: my sympathy to the victims of the Vezneciler attack, their families and IBB Mayor @Kadir__Topbas,” Hidalgo tweeted.