ADDS STATEMENTS FROM UKRAINE'S FOREIGN MINISTER & RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN EMBASSIES IN ANKARA, MINOR EDITS
By Esra Tekin and Merve Berker
ISTANBUL /ANKARA (AA) - Leaders from around the world condemned a terrorist attack Wednesday targeting a defense industry facility in Türkiye's capital in which five people were killed and 22 injured.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in Ankara.
“I condemn this heinous attack on facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries,” Erdogan said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also condemned the attack on the sidelines of a BRICS group summit that Erdogan was attending as a guest.
“Dear Mr. President, dear colleagues, we are very glad to welcome you to Kazan. But before we start work, I would like to express my condolences in connection with the terrorist attack. Media reports are coming in about the terrorist attack in Türkiye,” Putin said.
He added that Moscow condemns any manifestations of terrorism.
The US also condemned the deadly terror attack, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying "the United States stands with our Ally Türkiye and strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack.
"My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” Blinken added in his remarks on X.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby also condemned the attack.
“This morning, our prayers are with all of those affected and their families, and of course, also the people of Türkiye at this very difficult time,” he said.
"Turkish authorities, as they said it, are investigating this as a possible terrorist attack, and while we don't yet know the motive or who is exactly behind it, we strongly condemn this act of violence," he told reporters at a briefing.
- ‘NATO stands with its allied nation Türkiye’
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also condemned the attack.
“We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and are monitoring developments closely,” Rutte said.
“NATO stands with its allied nation Türkiye,” he added.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell “strongly condemned” terrorism in all forms in a post on X following the attack.
“The EU expresses solidarity with Türkiye in this difficult time,” he said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who had conducted an official visit to Türkiye on Oct. 20-22, also said that he is "deeply saddened" over the terror attack.
"There is no excuse for terrorism. I express my feelings of solidarity with our Turkish friends and offer my condolences to those who lost their lives," Sybiha wrote on X.
Azerbaijan also condemned the attack, adding that Baku would always be on the side "of its brother, Türkiye."
French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned “the terrorist attack that hit Ankara in the strongest terms,” in a post on X.
He highlighted that the French people “share the pain of the families of those who lost their lives in the attack and offer our condolences to them.”
Macron said his country stands “in solidarity with Türkiye and the Turkish people against terrorism.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on X: “I am shocked by the reports of the dead and injured in Ankara. We strongly condemn terrorism in any form and stand by our partner Türkiye.”
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof also conveyed his condolences to President Erdogan, saying the Netherlands "condemns all forms of terrorism. We sympathize with Türkiye and are closely monitoring the situation."
Calling the terrorist attack "horrific," Germany also condemned "all forms of terrorism in the strongest possible terms.”
"Our solidarity goes out to our Turkish friends."
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also “strongly” condemned the attack, saying: “Terrorism and violence have no place in our society.”
Kosovo condemned the attack as well, expressing solidarity with Türkiye.
"We stand with our ally, Türkiye, following today’s terrorist attack in Ankara. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. Terrorism and violence have no place in our world!" says President Vjosa Osmani on X.
- ‘Heinous’ attack
Slovenia also condemned the "heinous" attack, with Deputy Prime Minister Tanja Fajon drawing attention to the civilian death toll.
"I condemn the heinous attack — which claimed lives of innocent people — in Türkiye today. There is no place for terrorism — or any form of violence — in democratic societies. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones," she said.
Ireland’s Foreign Ministry said on X that “Ireland condemns the deadly attack that took place in Türkiye today."
“We express condolences with the people of Türkiye, especially the families of those who have been killed or injured,” it added.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed “concern” over the terrorist attack in Ankara.
“Serbia condemns all forms of terrorism and stands in solidarity with Türkiye and its people,” he said, conveying his “sincere condolences to the victims' families, and I wish those injured a speedy recovery.”
The Balkan nation's Foreign Ministry said on X: “Our hearts go out to the victims of the horrifying attack in #Ankara as we express our deepest condolences to their families.”
“Shocked and saddened, we strongly condemn this senseless act of violence and stand with the people of #Türkiye during this difficult time,” it added.
On Facebook, the Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Deniz Becirovic, also condemned the terrorist attack.
He expressed his condolences to President Erdogan, the families of the victims of the attack and the Turkish nation.
- Condemnations from diplomatic missions in Türkiye
Canada’s Embassy in Türkiye released a similar statement of strong condemnation, adding that Ottawa stands with Türkiye, “our friend and ally, at this difficult time.”
Calling the attack “despicable,” the chief of British intelligence service MI6 also condemned the attack.
“I extend my condolences to the families of the martyrs and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” Richard Moore said on X.
The president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, condemned the attack as well, offering his condolences.
The US Embassy in Türkiye also issued a statement of condemnation.
"The United States strongly condemns today's terrorist attack and extends condolences to the families of those lost and injured. We stand with our ally Türkiye," it said.
Switzerland's embassy in Türkiye also condemned the attack "in the strongest terms," conveying its condolences to the Turkish people.
Russia and Ukraine's embassies in Ankara were also among those who expressed their condolences for the attack, expressing that they strongly condemn "all manifestations of terrorism."