ANKARA
The Charlie Hebdo attack should be regarded as an isolated terrorist incident and nothing more, Turkey's Ambassador to Paris, Hakki Akil, has said.
Speaking to reporters during the 7th Annual Ambassadors' Conference in Ankara on Thursday, Akil also said there was no need to tighten security measures at the Turkish Embassy in Paris, as "it is being highly protected 24/7".
"We don't need to have extra security measures because of the shooting, because our embassy is one of the best-protected around," Akil said.
The attack on the satirical French magazine left 12 people dead and eight injured, four seriously on Wednesday.
When asked if there were threats against Turkish people in Paris, Akil said he did not foresee any particular problems for Turkish citizens in the French capital.
He said: "The Turkish community in Paris is a highly respected and a common-sensical community."
"Our citizens have always excluded themselves from these kinds of incidents," he said.
- 'Serious problems'
When asked if he thought the shooting would increase xenophobia in Paris and Europe, Akil called on Parisiens and Europeans to exercise common sense.
Akil said: "This should be regarded as a terrorist attack only, or else, it will cause serious problems in France."
He said he had offered Turkey's condolences to France's Ambassador to Ankara, Laurent Bili.
Earlier on Thursday, President Francois Hollande observed a minute of silence at the police headquarters in the French capital.
In public places, offices and primary schools, colleges and universities around the country people stopped working and stood to observe the minute of silence.
