Political leaders strongly condemn terror attack in Istanbul

Turkish political leaders issued statements on Sunday, condemning Saturday's terror attack near a football stadium in Istanbul that martyred at least 38 people and injured 155 others.

In a written statement, Turkish parliament speaker İsmail Kahraman said those kinds of attacks would make the government more resolute in its fight against terror.

"Whatever it is, PKK, PYD, Daesh or FETÖ [Fetullah Terrorist Organization], all terror organizations must be condemned. the Turkish nation is resilient. It is important for our nation to be in unity and solidarity," Kahraman said.

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement that the army, gendarmerie, police and security forces would combat terror jointly and determinedly.

Similarly, Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu and Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said all treacherous plots against Turkey would be repaid by the national solidarity and the state's determination.

“None of the terror groups or their acts can stop Turkey's fight against terrorism," tweeted Bozdag.

The opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli said: "It is not a coincidence that this deadly attack happened during a period when Turkey is beginning to come to a social and political compromise."

"PKK, FETÖ, Daesh, PYD/YPG, DHKP-C [a far-left terror organization], all these organizations will be destroyed by national dignity. There is no other alternative," Bahceli said.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said in written statement that the government must accept that the country is in need of a rational, scientific, sustainable and national anti-terrorism policy.

"In this context, as the Republican People's Party, I once again emphasize that we are ready to give all kinds of support to the fight against terrorism," Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Turkey's opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) also condemned the attack in a written statement.

“We strongly condemn the attack. We feel great sorrow and share the pain," the party said.

Meanwhile, a funeral was held at the Istanbul police headquarters in Fatih district for five police officers who lost their lives in the blasts.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım attended the ceremony as well as local authorities and police officers.

Across the city, diverse groups also marched against terrorism, placing carnations on the site of Saturday's bomb attack.

At around 10.30 p.m. (1930GMT) on Saturday evening, two explosions rocked Istanbul's European side.

Outside a football stadium in Istanbul's Besiktas district, a car bomb was detonated two hours after the end of a Turkish league football match between Besiktas and Bursaspor.

Seconds later, a suicide bomb attack occurred in Macka Park in the same neighborhood. The suicide bomber blew himself up after police noticed him, according to Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu.

"A total of 13 suspects have been arrested so far," he said. "Signs point to the involvement of the PKK terrorist group."

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş also said Sunday that the PKK terror group was "most likely" to have been involved in Saturday's deadly terror attack.

The Turkish Prime Ministry said in a statement, a day of national mourning has been declared on Sunday. The national flags will be flown at half-mast across Turkey and at foreign delegations, it added.