International support for Turkey continues in wake of Ankara bomb

One day after PKK-affiliated terrorists exploded a car bomb in the Turkish capital killing at least 28 people, the world has continued to voice its disapproval.

On Thursday, European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic underlined the executive body’s “long-standing policy of condemning any terror attacks” in response to a question posed by an Anadolu Agency reporter at a daily press briefing in Brussels.

“[The] PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union. It has clear implications and obliges other members to follow it,” she said.

Earlier, Britain’s ambassador to Turkey, Richard Moore, expressed his condolences to the families of those who died in Wednesday’s attack.

“This is something where the U.K. feels strong affinity,” Moore said during a two-day economic conference in Istanbul.

“We too have suffered and continue to suffer from the curse of terrorism and so I can assure you people of the U.K. feel a strong sense of solidarity with you after this event.”

On Thursday, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan also added their voices to the international condemnation.

Malaysia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the government regards the attack “as a heinous act of terrorism and the perpetrators should be brought to justice”, while Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the bombing.

Sharif said in a statement that the government and people of Pakistan stood alongside Turkey and “condemned terrorism in its all forms and manifestations”.

Elsewhere, the Philippines and Indonesia offered prayers for those who perished.

“Let us all strive harder to work for peace,” Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Rowena Sanchez underlined in a statement published Thursday on Facebook.

An initial report from Ankara’s governor suggested that three military-owned vehicles and a private vehicle were targeted by the suicide bomber close to Turkish General Staff and parliament buildings.

Sanchez underlined that the ensuing blast occurred just 30 minutes away from the Philippine’s embassy.

Meanwhile, in Africa leaders reacted with outrage.

Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh described it as a blatant act of cowardice, adding that it would stand at Turkey’s side.

“The international community must join forces in the fight against terrorism,” he said in a statement.

The Burundian government also slammed the bombing while Chad condemned it as “despicable and unjustifiable”.

“The government of Chad is very touched by this barbaric act… that hit the capital of this friendly country without any justification,” Communications Minister Moustapha Ali Alifey said.

“We strongly condemn these terrorist maneuvers and we express our sympathy to the government and Turkish people.”

On Thursday, Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that the bombing was carried out jointly by a YPG member infiltrating from Syria, and PKK members based in Turkey.

“The YPG is a pawn of the Syrian regime, and the regime is directly responsible for the Ankara attack,” he said.

Davutoglu confirmed that 27 members of Turkish military were martyred, along with one civilian.

The blast affected a further 81 people, 59 of whom have now been discharged from hospital.

“22 people still remain at the hospital, including seven under treatment in the intensive care unit,” said the health ministry in a statement Thursday afternoon.

No group has claimed responsibility for the car bomb, which comes amid a string of attacks in Turkey by Daesh, PKK and YPG terrorists.

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