European leaders express condolences over Ankara attack

Several European leaders and international institutions on Monday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Ankara that left 37 dead and more than 120 wounded over the weekend.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said there could be no justification for such heinous acts of violence. "All NATO Allies stand in solidarity with Turkey, resolute in our determination to fight terrorism in all its forms," he said.

The terror attack hit the Turkish capital for the second time on Sunday in less than a month. Explosions occurred in Kizilay Square, near a bus station, a park and several government ministries. Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

Greek political leaders on Monday expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and solidarity with Turkish people. Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos expressed his condolences to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglou and expressed condolences, as well as the support of Greek people.

"We express our abhorrence of the deadly terrorist attack that took place in Ankara. We unequivocally condemn terrorism, whatever its source, and we express our solidarity with the Turkish people and the citizens of the Turkish capital, as well as the deep condolences of the Greek people and the Greek government to the families of the victims," read a statement from Greece's Foreign Ministry.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said in a letter of condolence to Erdogan that: "Bulgaria strongly condemns terrorism and reaffirms its determination, jointly with its partners, to continue the fight against this international threat,"

"I hope that very soon the organizers of this barbaric act will be caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law," he added. Endit