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Council of Europe chief condemns terrorist attacks in Turkey

Xinhua, December 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland of the Council of Europe released a statement on Sunday condemning terrorist attacks that took place in Istanbul on Saturday night outside a football stadium.

"We condemn the terrorist attacks killing dozens of innocent people and leaving many more injured," declared the secretary general, before expressing "deepest condolences to the people of Turkey and its government."

Two bomb explosions rocked a central Istanbul neighborhood just outside of the Vodafone Arena football station, just hours after a match between top division teams Bursaspor and Besiktas, killing at least 38 people.

Jagland affirmed that "Turkey can rely on the solidarity and support of the Council of Europe," a pan-European human rights organization, headquartered in Strasbourg, and to which Turkey is a major contributor.

"We stand by Turkey and its people who have suffered so much from these cruel attacks, mourn with the victims' families and wish the injured a swift recovery," said the secretary general.

Turkey has been suffering from a wave of attacks since last year, following increased involvement in military actions against the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to put an end to terrorism, warning that the attackers would pay a "heavy price." Endit