UNITED NATION, United States (AFP) — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon decried Sunday the suicide bombing that killed 51 people at a wedding in southeastern Turkey, and called for swift punishment for the perpetrators.
“The secretary-general condemns yesterday’s terrorist attack on a wedding party in the city of Gaziantep, Turkey,” Ban’s office said in a statement.
“This act, reportedly carried out by a suicide bomber, killed at least 50 people and wounded dozens of others,” the UN chief said. “The Secretary-General expresses his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Turkey. He wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.”
The attack took place as the party was wrapping up in a mainly Kurdish neighborhood.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed the attack on the Islamic State group.
“The Secretary-General hopes that the perpetrators of this act will be quickly identified and brought to justice,” the UN statement added.
“He again stresses the need to intensify regional and international efforts to prevent and combat terrorism and violent extremism.”
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