Turkey strongly condemns Berlin market truck crash

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA

Turkey's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned Monday night’s incident in Berlin that claimed 12 lives.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry expressed sympathy to German people for what it called a “terrorist attack”.

At least 12 people were killed and 48 others injured when a truck crashed into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital.

"This atrocious attack sets another example that terrorism is an illness that engorges itself with innocent people's blood," the statement read.

The ministry also said terrorism could be handled if it is fought against collectively and called on international community and allies to cooperate.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has said he did not want to use the word "attack" for the crash. "But so many things point to it being an [attack],” he said in a statement broadcast on the state-run ARD television station.