Policemen stand guard at the entrance to Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, June 29, 2016 [Xinhua]BRICS nations have condemned the terrorist attack in Istanbul, one of the deadliest in a series of suicide bombings targeting Turkey, that has killed scores of people on Tuesday.
The Brazilian Government expressed “its firm condemnation of the attacks that caused dozens of victims, among dead and injured, at Ataturk airport in the city of Istanbul”.
“Brazil conveys its sincere condolences to the families of the victims, as well as its solidarity to the people and government of Turkey, and reiterates its firm condemnation of all forms of terrorism,” said a Foreign Ministry statement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was an “inhuman and horrific attack”.
Attack in Istanbul is inhuman & horrific. I condemn it strongly. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 29, 2016
Turkey’s prime minister said the attack on Tuesday appeared to be carried out by Islamic State militants.
Three suicide bombers attacked Istanbul’s main international airport on Tuesday, killing 36 people and wounding close to 150.
“There is initial evidence that each of the three suicide bombers blew themselves up after opening fire,” Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.
The attack comes a day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made peace overtures towards Moscow after months of bitterness over a downed Russian jet.
Russia is backing the Syrian armed forces in its war against the Islamic State.
Erdogan and Putin will hold phone talks on Wednesday as scheduled earlier. The attack at Istanbul airport and the battle against Daesh (Islamic State) is expected to top the agenda.
“I hope that the Ataturk Airport attack, especially in Western countries [and] all over the world, will be a milestone for the joint fight against terrorist organizations, a turning point,” he said adding that he expects the world, and especially Western countries, to demonstrate “a decisive stance”.
Turkey is part of the US-led coalition against Islamic State.
TBP and Agencies