There were wide global condemnations for Istanbul terror attack after at least 41 people were killed and more than 230 others injured in a terror attack on the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has condemned the attacks on Ataturk airport in Istanbul that have killed at least 28 people.
He says on the sidelines of an ecumenical Iftar dinner in Berlin that he’s shocked by the news.
He says the background of the attacks is still unclear, “but everything suggests that terrorists have once again hit the Turkish metropolis.
“We grieve for the victims and with the relatives. We stand by Turkey.”
Germany’s top security official also condemned the attack on Istanbul’s airport as “cowardly and brutal.”
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said his thoughts were with the victims and their families, and vowed that “we will continue our fight against terrorism together with our allies with full force.”
De Maiziere said in a statement Wednesday he was “deeply shocked by the cowardly and brutal attack on Istanbul’s airport.”
He saids “terrorism has once again shown its ugly face and innocent people have lost their lives.”
Before and after the suicide attack in Istanbul via @140journos pic.twitter.com/8GWoAd4Vws
— Mutlu Civiroglu (@mutludc) June 28, 2016
Canada
Canada is condemning the suicide bombing attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk airport that killed at least 36 people and wounded many others.
Officials in Turkey are blaming the attack on three suspected Islamic State bombers.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that Canada “strongly condemns tonight’s deadly attack in Turkey,” adding that his thoughts are with the victims as “we stand with our allies against terrorism.”
A spokesperson at Global Affairs Canada said Canadian officials based in Ankara and Istanbul were closely monitoring the situation and working to determine if any Canadian citizens had been affected.
Austin Jean said that so far, the department had no reports of any Canadians being injured in the attack.
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion also issued a statement strongly condemning what he called an “appalling” attack.
Dion offered condolences to the family and friends of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.
“We stand with the Turkish people as they deal with this most recent and appalling terror attack,” Dion said. “We reaffirm our commitment to work tirelessly in the fight against terrorism.”
Israel
Israeli prime minister Netanyahu on Wednesday condemned Tuesday night’s deadly terror attack that killed 41 people at the airport in Istanbul.
“All civilized nations must stand together to fight the scourge of terrorism,” he stated following the attack by three suicide bombers.
UN officials
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the “terrorist attack” at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport and is calling for the perpetrators to be identified and brought to justice.
U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the secretary-general “stands firmly by Turkey as it confronts this threat and stresses the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism.”
Mogens Lykketoft, president of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, expressed anger and grief at the attack.
“Once again we experience the senseless killing of innocent and peaceful civilians,” he said. “The international community must — through much closer cooperation — redouble efforts to contain and fight radical and violent extremism.”
NATO officials
NATO’s chief has strongly condemned the “horrific attacks” at Istanbul’s airport, and said Turkey’s 27 allies in the U.S-led political and military organization stand with it.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary-general, said in a statement: “My thoughts are with the families of the victims, those injured and the people of Turkey.
“There can be no justification for terrorism,” Stoltenberg said. “NATO Allies stand in solidarity with Turkey, united in our determination to fight terrorism in all its forms.”
Albania
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, whose plane landed in Istanbul minutes after the attacks on Istanbul’s airport, has expressed his condolences to the victims.
Rama said in a message on Twitter that he felt “deep pity for the lost innocent lives in that barbarous act of those who have neither God or hope nor a place among the people.”
Rama, Finance Minister Arben Ahmetaj and a delegation on Wednesday are on an official visit to Turkey. Rama said all of the planned meetings would go ahead.
France
France’s foreign minister has condemned the attack on Istanbul’s airport as “odious and cowardly.”
Offering condolences, Jean-Marc Ayrault assured that France “is at Turkey’s side in the fight against terrorism.”
As usual in such circumstances, France opened a crisis cell to maintain close contact with Turkish authorities, and provides any needed instructions to the French community there.
Ayrault counseled prudence to French people in Turkey, a prime destination for French tourists.
Belgium
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel tweeted from a closed-door meeting in Brussels, “Despicable terror attack. Stand together with people of Turkey,” while European Union Foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini tweeted that “the EU stands by the Turkish people. Our heart is with them.”
Greece
Greece’s Foreign Ministry has expressed “rage and revulsion” over the attacks at Istanbul airport, condemning the suicide bomb attacks that claimed the lives of at least 36 people.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that a Greek consular team had gone to the airport immediately after the blasts to provide assistance to Greek citizens to ensure they were transported safely to hotels in the city, and the Greek Consulate in Istanbul was working to help repatriate citizens. The ministry said there were no indications that any Greeks were among the casualties of the attacks.
Istanbul has a resident Greek community and is also a popular destination for visiting Greek tourists.
Denmark
Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen is “crying with the Turkish people who once again are witnesses to a cowardly terrorist attack.”
Nordic and Baltic governments condemned Wednesday the attack at Istanbul’s main airport that killed 36 people and wounded scores of others.
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg tweeted her “thoughts are with those who lost their lives, the wounded and their loved ones.”
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics conveyed “his deepest sympathies” while Finland Prime Minister Juha Sipila sent his condolences to his Turkish counterpart, Binali Yildirim.
The region’s foreign ministries said there were no reports of Nordic or Baltic victims.
Pope Francis
Pope Francis has denounced the “brutal terrorist attack” at Istanbul’s airport and is calling for the killers behind it to change their ways.
In a noontime blessing from his studio window, Francis said he was praying for the victims, their families “and the dear Turkish people.” He asked the entire piazza to pray in silence and then led the crowd in the Hail Mary prayer.
He said: “May the Lord convert the hearts of the violent ones and support our efforts toward the path of peace.”
