01 January 2017•Update: 03 January 2017
ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said Turkey will continue to fight against terrorism and its backers "till the end."
Erdogan has issued a written message following the armed terror attack at an Istanbul nightclub early Sunday, which killed at least 39 people including a police officer and injured 69 others.
President Erdogan said the "vicious attack" in Istanbul clearly showed that terror does not discriminate but "aims to hurt and kill."
"Turkey is firm on doing whatever it takes to protect its citizens' safety and peace in the region," the president said. "Turkey will stand together and not give passage to dirty games of terrorists."
The president added that those who attack people's peace aim to "create chaos."
"I offer my condolences to our citizens', to our foreign guests' and to our security officer's families and wish a speedy recovery to those injured," Erdogan said. "We are dedicated to eradicate attacks and threats to our country."
The attack comes three weeks after twin bombings in Istanbul killed at least 45 people, most of whom were police officers.
