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Merkel condemns bomb attack in Istanbul

Xinhua, January 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned on Tuesday the alleged terrorist attack in Istanbul that killed at least 10 people, including German citizens.

"My thoughts are with the relatives of the victims and those injured at this time," said Merkel after a meeting with visiting Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal in Berlin.

She noted that "international terrorism has once again shown its cruel and inhuman face," stressing the need to take resolute action against it.

German authorities, Merkel added, will keep close contact with the Turkish side and work together to organize the fastest possible aid for those in need.

At least 10 people were killed, and 15 others wounded, in a violent explosion in the heart of Istanbul's tourist district earlier on the day. Citing sources of the Turkish government, media reported that at least nine of those killed were German nationals.

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the explosion that rocked Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district was carried out by a suicide bomber of Syrian origin. Endit