Istanbul, Turkey : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said there were several fatal casualties in the twin bomb attacks that rocked the heart of Istanbul on Saturday.
"Unfortunately we have martyrs and wounded" as a result of the twin blasts, Erdogan said in a statement, one of which is believed to have been caused by a car bomb outside a football stadium and another by a suicide attack at a nearby park.
Government officials could not give a precise toll, with Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu saying earlier that at least 20 police officers were wounded after the blast outside the football stadium -- following Besiktas' home game against Bursaspor.
"An act of terror targeted our security forces and citizens at Besiktas tonight," Erdogan said. Besiktas is also the name of the neighbourhood around club's arena.
Erdogan said the blasts shortly after the end of the match sought to cause maximum loss of life.
"We have witnessed once more here in Istanbul the ugly face of terror which tramples down any form of value and morals," he said.
Erdogan said that "the name or the method of the terrorist organisation which perpetrated the vile attack" did not matter. "Nobody should doubt that we will defeat terror, terror groups, terrorists and of course the forces behind them, with God's help," he said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"Unfortunately we have martyrs and wounded" as a result of the twin blasts, Erdogan said in a statement, one of which is believed to have been caused by a car bomb outside a football stadium and another by a suicide attack at a nearby park.
Government officials could not give a precise toll, with Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu saying earlier that at least 20 police officers were wounded after the blast outside the football stadium -- following Besiktas' home game against Bursaspor.
Erdogan said the blasts shortly after the end of the match sought to cause maximum loss of life.
Advertisement
Erdogan said that "the name or the method of the terrorist organisation which perpetrated the vile attack" did not matter. "Nobody should doubt that we will defeat terror, terror groups, terrorists and of course the forces behind them, with God's help," he said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Spirit Of United Nations Dead In Gaza": Turkey's Erdogan After Deadly Israeli Strikes Turkey's Erdogan Meets Hamas Chief In Istanbul, Israel Reacts Turkey's Erdogan Congratulates Putin On Re-Election, Offers To Mediate With Ukraine 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court Trump, Musk Groove To Bee Gees' 'Stayin' Alive' In AI-Video Now Viral "Want To Ask Congress...": Mamata Banerjee Snaps At Ally In Rape-Murder Case US Judge Says "Monopolist" Google Can't Avoid App Store Reforms NASA To Decide Stranded Starliner Astronauts' Route Home By End Of Month Mob Vandalises Hospital During Protest Over Kolkata Horror Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.