UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM CHINA, MALDIVES, TAJIKISTAN; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE
By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Thursday joined several other Asian nations to condemn a terrorist attack on a Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters in Ankara which left five people dead and 22 others injured.
Expressing condolences and sympathies to the victims, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China "firmly opposes all forms of terrorism," state media reported.
An explosion and gunshots were heard Wednesday at TAI's facilities in Ankara's Kahramankazan district.
Two terrorists who attacked the facilities were "neutralized," while five people were killed and 22 injured, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
Beijing hopes that Türkiye "will maintain safety and stability," Lin told reporters in Beijing.
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu also conveyed condolences to the families of the victims of the terror attack
Expressing sorrow over the "tragic" attack, Muizzu affirmed Maldives’ "solidarity with the brotherly and sisterly people of Türkiye."
Tajikistan expressed "deep sorrow" over the fatalities caused by the attack.
The Central Asian nation's Foreign Ministry said: "Tajikistan resolutely condemns this terrorist attack that led to the death and injury of civilians."
Earlier, Pakistan, Malaysia and Afghanistan strongly condemned the terrorist attack.
Malaysian Foreign Ministry expressed its deepest condolences and sympathies to the government of Türkiye and the families of those who have lost their lives, as well as wishes those injured a speedy recovery.
The Taliban-led interim administration in Afghanistan condemned the attack, calling it "tragic," and expressed condolences for the fatalities, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.
The ministry conveyed Kabul's condolences to the Turkish government and people, as well as the bereaved families.
The statement added that Kabul hopes that the "honourable people and government of Türkiye will not face such tragic incidents again in the future. "
Pakistan also condemned the attack and extended its “deepest” condolences to the government and people of Türkiye.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack.
"I condemn this heinous attack on facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries,” he said.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation.
*Islamuddin Sajid contributed to the story from Pakistan