The UN “firmly” condemns the attack in Istanbul

November 15 () –

The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has “firmly” condemned the bomb attack carried out on Sunday in the Turkish city of Istanbul, which left at least six dead and more than 80 injured, without any claim from the authorship.

“The Secretary General firmly condemns the deadly attack in Istanbul,” said the spokesperson for the UN Secretary General in a statement in which she stressed that Guterres conveys his “heartfelt condolences” to the victims and their families, as well as to the Government and people of Turkey.

Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu said on Monday that the suspect of planting the explosive device on Istiklal Avenue has been arrested and pointed to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as responsible. Thus, he said, the order came from Ain al Arab (Kobani), where the prominent Syrian Kurdish militia People’s Protection Units (YPG) operates.

However, the PKK disassociated itself from the attack. “We have nothing to do with this incident and it is well known to the public that we do not directly attack civilians or condone actions directed against civilians,” the People’s Defense Center (HSM) Headquarters Command said.

Likewise, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of militias whose main element is the YPG, also denied any relationship with the attack. “We affirm that our forces have nothing to do with the attack in Istanbul and we reject the claims that accuse our forces,” said SDF commander Mazlum Abdi.