UPDATE 3 – Turkish president condemns deadly attacks in Sri Lanka

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT BY TURKISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS</p> <p>By Ali Murat Alhas and Zehra Nur Duz</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday condemned multiple bomb attacks in Sri Lanka that killed a total of 207 and wounded over 400 people.</p> <p>In a Twitter post, Erdogan said: &quot;I condemn in the strongest terms possible the Easter terror attacks in #SriLanka. This is an assault on all of humanity.&quot;</p> <p>“On behalf of the Turkish people, I offer my condolences to the families of the victims and the people of #SriLanka, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,&quot; he added.</p> <p>“This barbaric attack in Sri Lanka once again demonstrated the need for a decisive fight against all kinds of terrorism,” Erdogan said in a separate statement Sunday.</p> <p>Erdogan also expressed his solidarity with Sri Lanka against terrorism.</p> <p>Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also condemned the attacks &quot;targeting innocent people in churches and hotels during Easter&quot;. </p> <p>“No matter what the motive is, the heinous terror attack in Sri Lanka is the same as the one in Christchurch [New Zealand]: cowardly, barbaric and cruel. Terror has no religion, no nation, no geography,&quot; he said.</p> <p>Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement, condemning the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka.</p> <p>“We are deeply saddened to hear that many civilians have lost their lives and many others were wounded as a result of terrorist attacks targeting some churches and hotels in Sri Lanka this morning,” the statement said.</p> <p>“These heinous attacks carried out on the Easter day ceremonies, are deliberate acts of provocation. From this aspect, they have no difference from the recent terrorist attacks committed in New Zealand against Muslims praying in mosque,” it added.</p> <p>The statement stressed that “Turkey will continue to act in solidarity with the people and Government of Sri Lanka in their fight against terrorism”.</p> <p>Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin offered his condolences to the families of victims of the attacks.</p> <p>&quot;I offer my condolences to those who lost their lives, and wish the wounded a speedy recovery,&quot; Kalin said.</p> <p>&quot;We reject all kinds of terrorism, regardless of its perpetrators, source and ideology,&quot; he added.</p> <p>Multiple explosions hit churches and hotels in different parts of Sri Lanka on Sunday leaving at least 138 dead and more than 400 injured.</p> <p>No groups have yet claimed responsibility.</p> <p>Pakeer Mohideen Amza, Sri Lanka's ambassador to Ankara, thanked Turkish authorities, particularly President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, for expressing solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka.</p> <p>&quot;I want to extend my sincere condolences to families of two Turkish citizens who died in the heinous attacks,&quot; he added.