Erdogan vows to continue fight against terrorism

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed his “determination in the fight against terrorism” following Saturday’s deadly terror attack in Istanbul, which left 38 people martyred and over 150 others wounded.

Erdogan told the reporters Sunday outside a hospital where he visited the wounded:

No one should have any doubt about our fight against terrorism…We are the owners of this country, and will not leave it to those scums if they aim to scare us with such attacks.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, who also visited wounded at another hospital, said the Istanbul terror attack would strengthen the perseverance to fight against terrorism.

“This nation has the will and power to rid the country of PKK, PYD, YPG, DHKP-C [far-left terror group], [Fetullah Terrorist Organization] FETO, and all the other terrorist groups,” Yildirim said.

He said it was “most likely” the PKK that carried out the attack, which he said was “targeted at our unity, solidarity, and fraternity”.

Previously, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus also said signs were pointing to PKK involvement in the deadly attack.

On Saturday evening, a first explosion occurred outside a football stadium in Istanbul’s Besiktas district when a car bomb was detonated two hours after the end of a Turkish league football match between Besiktas and Bursaspor.

The second one – a suicide bomb attack – came just seconds later in Macka Park in the same neighbourhood. The suicide bomber blew himself up after police noticed him, according to the interior minister.

A total of 13 suspects have been arrested so far.

Turkish flag and Besiktas’s logo are seen at Vodafone Arena during a day of national mourning after the terror attacks near the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul’s Besiktas, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [ Abdullah Coşkun / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks with the relatives of the casualties of Istanbul terror attack during a funeral ceremony at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Kayhan Özer / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks with the relatives of the casualties of Istanbul terror attack during a funeral ceremony at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Kayhan Özer / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks with the relatives of the casualties of Istanbul terror attack during a funeral ceremony at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Kayhan Özer / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks with the relatives of the casualties of Istanbul terror attack during a funeral ceremony at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Kayhan Özer / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks with the relatives of the casualties of Istanbul terror attack during a funeral ceremony at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Kayhan Özer / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks with the relatives of the casualties of Istanbul terror attack during a funeral ceremony at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Kayhan Özer / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks with the relatives of the casualties of Istanbul terror attack during a funeral ceremony at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Kayhan Özer / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives attend the funeral ceremony for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives attend the funeral ceremony for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives attend the funeral ceremony for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives attend the funeral ceremony for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives attend the funeral ceremony for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives attend the funeral ceremony for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives attend the funeral ceremony for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives attend the funeral ceremony for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives attend the funeral ceremony for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives attend the funeral ceremony for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Funeral ceremony held for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Funeral ceremony held for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Funeral ceremony held for the casualties of the Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish flags fly at half mast on December 11, 2016 [File photo by Cem Öksüz / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish flags fly at half mast during a day of national mourning after the terror attacks near the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul’s Besiktas, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Cem Öksüz / Anadolu Agency]

Funeral ceremony held for the casualties of Istanbul terror attacks at Istanbul Police Department headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]