World condemns southeast Turkey truck bomb attack

ANKARA

Leaders from around the world condemned Friday’s deadly PKK attack in the southeastern town of Cizre that left 11 police officers martyred.

In an official statement, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini extended her condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

“The European Union expresses its solidarity and sympathy with the government and people of Turkey,” she said. “We will continue to strengthen our cooperation to prevent and counter terrorism.”

U.S. Ambassador John Bass, in a statement on the Ankara embassy’s website, said: “We condemn this morning’s horrific terrorist attack in Cizre. We grieve with the people of Turkey, our NATO ally, and we reaffirm our shared commitment to defeating terrorism.”

Britain’s ambassador to Turkey, Richard Moore, also condemned the attack that left 75 officers and three civilians injured when terrorists detonated truck bomb near a checkpoint in Cizre.

“My condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded. PKK should return to cease-fire,” Moore tweeted.

He also condemned Thursday’s PKK attack on the convoy of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), in the northeastern province of Artvin, which martyred one gendarme and injured two others. Kilicdaroglu was uninjured.

A statement from the French Foreign Ministry denounced the attack and said: “The French authorities again express their solidarity with the Turkish authorities and people in the face of terrorism.”