News / Turkey

EU, Turkey stand united against terrorism: European Commission

Wednesday, 13 January 2016 2:32 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 13 January 2016 2:36 AM ]

Turkish paramedics carry a dead body after a terrorist explosion killed at least 10 people and wounded 15 others near Istanbul's tourist hub of Sultanahmet on January 12, 2016. (EPA)

The executive body of the European Union says it stands "united" with Turkey against "all forms of terrorism," after a deadly bomb attack killed nearly a dozen people in the country’s most populous city of Istanbul.

“The fight against terrorism was recognized as a priority at the EU-Turkey Summit on 29 November 2015 and we must step up our efforts in this regard in full respect of our obligations under international law, including human rights and humanitarian law,” said a joint statement released on Tuesday by the European Commission Vice President Federica Mogherini and European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

The European Commission further extended its “sincere condolences” to the families of the victims of the bombing, and wished a speedy recovery to those wounded.

The blast took place earlier in the day in Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet Square, a major tourist attraction, killing at least 10 foreigners, including nine German tourists. Fifteen other people also sustained injuries.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu blamed the terrorist Takfiri Daesh group for the deadly attack.

“We have determined that the perpetrator of the attack is a foreigner who is a member of Daesh,” he said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the suspected assailant was identified as a 28-year-old Syrian national.

Members of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) lay flowers in Istanbul's tourist hub of Sultanahmet where at least 10 people were killed and 15 others wounded in a terrorist attack on January 12, 2016. (AFP)

Merkel condemns 'international terrorism'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also slammed the terror act and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.

“International terrorism has once again shown its cruel and inhumane face. The terrorists are enemies of all free people. They are enemies of all humanity, whether in Syria or Turkey, whether in France or Germany,” she said at a press conference in Berlin.

Turkey has been on high security alert since more than 100 people were killed in twin blasts, blamed on Daesh, in Ankara last October. Ankara has been among the main supporters of the militant groups operating in Syria, which has been grappling with a foreign-backed militancy since March 2011.

According to confessions made by a recently-captured Daesh militant, Turkey has long been training members of the Daesh terror group in camps on its soil.

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