NEW YORK
The deadly bomb attack in southern Turkey that killed at least 31 people on Monday was condemned around the world.
The suspected suicide attack in Suruc, a town in Sanliurfa province close to the Syrian border, targeted activists preparing to visit Kobani, the Syrian town devastated by fighting between Daesh and Kurdish forces.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack in southern Turkey on Monday, in a telegram of condolences to her Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.
“In these difficult times, Germany stands side by side with your country,” Merkel said in her condolence message.
“We are allies in fight against terrorism. We are united in our goal to defend and preserve our common values and peaceful coexistence of nations,” she stressed.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon denounced the attack through his official spokesman. "No cause or grievance ever justifies the targeting of civilians," Farhan Haq told reporters in New York.
Referring to Ban, Haq added: "He sends his deepest condolences to the victims and their families, as well as to the government and people of Turkey, and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.”
A statement from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the bombing. He said: "There can be no justification for terrorism. We stand in strong solidarity with the people and government of our ally Turkey."
In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest denounced the "heinous" attack. "We express our solidarity with the Turkish government and the Turkish people and reaffirm our undeterred resolve in the fight against the shared threat of terrorism,” he said.
"We continue to be mindful of the destabilizing impact that extremist groups like ISIL have in the region and that’s why you have seen the president [Barack Obama] work so hard to build and lead an international coalition to degrade and ultimately destroy them."
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged the international community to take strong measures against terrorism.
"I condemn this heinous act in the strongest terms,” he said in a statement. “The attack in Suruc shows that we cannot relax in our fight against terrorism. Turkey is a significant partner in this regard."
French President Francois Hollande offered his condolences on Tuesday to Turkey over the Suruc bomb attack that killed 31 a day earlier.
Hollande also underlined the importance of cooperating against terrorism in his telephone call to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a presidential spokesman said under a customary condition of anonymity.
In a written statement, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius offered condolences for the victims' families and voiced France’s solidarity with Turkey.
"I condemn in the strongest terms the suicide attack that hit the Turkish town of Suruc and has caused many deaths and injuries," he said.
"France stands by Turkey in face of this attack, which again shows the significance of our cooperation in the fight against extremism and terrorism."
Richard Moore, Britain’s Ambassador to Ankara, said he was “horrified” by the attack. In a message on Twitter, he said: “Thoughts with the wounded and with grieving families. I have kids that age. UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Turkey in condemning unequivocally all terrorism.”
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond wrote: “I condemn unreservedly today's sickening attack in #Suruc #Turkey. My deepest sympathies are with the injured & families of those killed.”
A message on the U.S. embassy’s official Twitter feed said: "We join all those across Turkey condemning the cowardly terrorist attack on innocents in Suruc."
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also sent his condolences. In a message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said: "Dear brother, I share your grief by this tragedy. On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I offer my condolences to you, the families of the victims and all Turkish people and wish the wounded a quick recovery."
On Tuesday, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias issued a statement condemning the attack.
Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga also addressed a letter of condolences to President Erdogan, offering her country’s support.
“The war against terrorism and extremism is our common war to strengthen the foundations of global security and maintain the stability in the world,” Jahjaga said.
Serzh Sargsyan, president of neighboring Armenia, also sent a message of condolence to the Turkish president. "We condemn all kinds of terror,” he said in a message on his official website. “Please accept my condolences on the incident. I wish strength for the relatives of the victims and speedy recovery for the wounded."
Pakistan condemned the attack “in the strongest terms”. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said: “So many precious lives have been lost. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families.”
The statement added: “We extend our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the brotherly people and government of Turkey and pray for the speediest recovery of those wounded in this abhorrent attack.”
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini conveyed her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.
Mogherini said that the attack was aimed at destabilizing the region.
"The attack adds to the pain and suffering of Syrian people fleeing violence and destruction, and of the Turkish people so generously engaged in helping them," she added.
Mogherini also said the EU, Turkey and regional and international partners will work more closely to struggle with the threat.
In a written statement, U.S. State Department spokesperson John Kirby said: “The United States condemns today’s terrorist attack in Suruc, Turkey that killed dozens of civilians and wounded many more innocent bystanders.
“We offer our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. The United States will continue to stand with Turkey, a valued NATO ally and partner in the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL [Daesh], as we work together to counter terrorism.”
A number of Middle East countries also expressed condemnation over Monday’s deadly attack.
Sending "sincere" condolences in a written statement, Bahrain called for increasing international efforts to eradicate terrorism.
It said Bahrain “reaffirms support for all efforts made by Turkey to promote security and stability in the country, reiterating a new its firm rejection of all forms of terrorism regardless of its motives and justifications".
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham strongly condemned the attack, saying: "This criminal terrorist attack once again showed that the perpetrators of such acts are not committed to any principle and for achieving their inhuman objectives will do anything."
The Foreign Ministry of Qatar said in a statement that Qatar confirms support for all security measures taken by Turkey to protect its borders to maintain security and stability.
Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel-Atti said: "Egypt condemns all kinds of terrorist acts that occur in different parts of world and target innocent people."
Al-Azhar, the highest seat of learning in the Sunni Muslim world, has also condemned a suicide bombing in southern Turkey, which killed at least 32 people.
“Al-Azhar reiterates its full rejection of all forms of terrorism,” the Cairo-based prestigious seat of learning said in a statement.
Additionally, Istanbul-based International Rabaa Platform, a rights group established in the wake of Rabaa massacres after the July 3 military coup in Egypt, denounced the attack, saying in statement: "The malicious attack in Suruc was not perpetrated against a certain segment or a group; rather, it was an attack directed to Turkey, and its peace and stability.”
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