ANKARA
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu condemned Tuesday’s terror attacks in Brussels that left at least 26 dead.
“I curse the attacks that took place this morning in Brussels, which once again show the global face of terrorism; I express condolences to the Belgian government and people, and wish to share feelings of solidarity on behalf of our nation,” he said.
Davutoglu was speaking in a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in parliament in capital Ankara.
At least 26 people were killed and dozens injured Tuesday morning in the Belgian capital Brussels in three blasts.
Twin blasts hit Zaventem Airport in Brussels at around 8 a.m. local time (07.00GMT).
An hour later, another blast hit Maelbeek metro station, located close to European Union institutions in Brussels, according to Belgian broadcaster VTM.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara on Tuesday that Turkey “is truly sorry” to hear about the Brussels terror attacks and expressed “condolences to the Belgian people.”
“We need to be more determined in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
Cavusoglu called for European countries not to release those suspected of being international fighters, as they do not deserve the freedom to travel. “Those who carried out the Paris attacks, essentially, were people that we had caught and handed over to Belgium,” he said.
“There can be no freedom to travel for terrorists,” he added. “If you release them, they become unpredictable.”
Reacting to the multiple blasts in Brussels Tuesday, Turkey’s EU Minister Volkan Bozkir expressed his shock, also stressing that Europe must oppose all terrorist organizations without discrimination,
"Shocked by the explosions at Brussels airport. All forms of terrorism and its supporters must be fought against without any discrimination," he tweeted in English.
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also condemned the attack in a Twitter post: “Another heinous terrorist attack, this time in Brussels. We strongly condemn this cowardly act. The perpetrators must be brought to justice.”
