Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland has condemned a terrorist attack in Turkey on Saturday that killed at least 13 soldiers.
“I strongly condemn the terrorist attack which killed so many soldiers and injured dozens this morning in Kayseri, less than a week after the deadly Istanbul attacks. Terrorist attacks must stop. They lead only to human suffering and serve no political goal.” said Jagland in a statement posted on the CoE’s website.
“The Council of Europe stands by Turkey and its people in these difficult times,” added Jagland.
At least 13 soldiers were killed and 56 others, including civilians, were injured in a car bomb attack on a bus carrying off-duty soldiers and civilians on Saturday morning in Kayseri.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AKP) government spokesperson Numan Kurtulmuş has blamed the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for the car bomb attack.
He said the attack was very similar to twin bomb attacks in İstanbul last Saturday, which claimed the lives of 44 people and injured 166 others.
The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), an offshoot of the PKK, on Sunday claimed responsibility for the twin bombings in İstanbul.
Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has announced that seven people have been detained, while police are looking for five other suspects in relation to the car-bomb attack.