UN Security Council, countries denounce terror attacks in Istanbul

The United Nations Security Council and many countries in the world have condemned the latest terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, which killed at least 39 people and injured 155 others.

The UN Security Council on Sunday "condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks" in a press statement, reaffirming that "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security."

The twin bombings, by a car bomb and a suicide bomber, occurred outside a football stadium in central Istanbul on late Saturday. The car bomb was detonated after a football match ended about one and half an hour, killing 30 police officers.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday denounced in a statement the deadly terror attacks "reportedly targeting Turkish police personnel."

The European Union (EU) on Sunday reaffirmed in a statement "our strong condemnation of all acts of terror and confirm our continued commitment to work together closely with Turkey in combatting the threat of terrorism."

Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland of the Council of Europe voiced in a denouncement statement on Sunday "deepest condolences to the people of Turkey and its government."

Russian President Vladimir Putin also condemned the attack and emphasized the need for the international community to jointly combat terrorism.

In a message of condolences to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin described the attack as cowardly and believed whoever committed the crime will be punished.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has issued a statement saying "this attack only redoubles our resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Turkish allies in condemning these attacks and relentlessly combatting terrorism."

He also said the United States remains "committed to working closely with Turkey within NATO" and the coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

While condemning the terror attacks in Istanbul, French President Francois Hollande expressed full support to Turkish authorities in fighting terrorism, the Elysee said in a statement on Sunday.

Foreign Ministry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in its statement on Sunday, restated the UAE principled position against "all forms and manifestations of terrorism," while expressing solidarity with the Turkish government against "terrorist crimes."

Denouncing the twin bombings in Istanbul, Jordan's Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani also voiced solidarity and support for Turkey, and called for increased efforts by the international community to uproot terrorism.

"Pakistan condemns this heinous act of terrorism in the strongest possible terms," Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Sunday in a statement, while expressing "deep sorrow and grief" to the bloodshed.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass said Sunday in an official statement, "This awful crime is totally condemned and rejected which contradicts with our religious values as well as the traditions, the morals and the laws all over the world."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that while condemning "all terrorism in Turkey", Israel "expects that Turkey will condemn all terrorist attacks in Israel."

"The fight against terrorism must be mutual. It must be mutual in condemnation and in countermeasures," he added.

Turkey and Israel sent ambassadors to each other this month to normalize ties six years after an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish flotilla killing 10 Turkish activists.

Hungarian foreign ministry on Sunday said in a statement Hungary stands side by side with Turkey in the fight against terrorism.

Iran expressed on Sunday "deep concerns" over repeated terror attacks hitting neighboring Turkey and urged countries to deliver a "decisive" response to the acts of violence perpetrated by extremist terrorists, deeming "global determination and consensus" as the only way to eliminate terrorism, said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Turkey's largest city Istanbul and capital Ankara have come under a spate of deadly attacks over the past year further worsening the security situation there.

Istanbul was last hit in late June, when three suicide bombers assaulted the city's major international airport and killed 45 people.

Thousands of Turks took to the streets on Sunday to denounce the latest terror attacks, and Turkey declared a day of national mourning on Sunday for the victims. Turkish President Erdogan has vowed vengeance and pledged to fight against terrorism "to the end."

At parliament on Sunday, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party and the opposition Republican People's Party and the Nationalist Movement Party read a joint declaration condemning the terror attack, and expressed "full support" for the security forces in the fight against terrorism.

Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party strongly condemned the attack in a written statement, saying it felt great sorrow and shared the pain.

The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks, a Kurdish militant group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, has claimed responsibility for the Saturday attacks, Turkish media said.

Source: Xinhua