Pope offers prayers for victims of terror attack in Turkey

Islamic State has been blamed by officials for other attacks in Turkey, often targeting Kurdish gatherings in an effort to inflame ethnic tensions.

In a statement, the Turkish leader said there was no difference between Hizmet – the organisation run by US-based cleric Fethullah Gülen, who he accuses of plotting Turkey’s attempted coup last month – the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and IS.

IS suicide bombers have carried out attacks in Istanbul several times this year, while Kurdish militants have hit targets in both Ankara and Istanbul.

A day where family and friends gathered to celebrate the new union of two people came to a horrific end as a suspected suicide bombing ripped through a street in southeastern Turkey late last night [Saturday, August 20], killing at least 50 people, and wounding over 90.

A video showing a Kurdish wedding celebration in Gaziantep, Turkey seconds before a boy suicide bomber, believed to be connected to the Islamic State, has surfaced.

Saturday’s attack comes with Turkey still in shock just a month after Erdogan and the government survived an attempted coup by rogue military officers, which Ankara blames on USA -based Islamist preacher Fethullah Gulen.

The attack comes as the country is still reeling from last month’s failed coup attempt, which the government has blamed on US -based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen and his followers.

There was no claim of responsibility immediately after the attack.

“There were blood and body parts everywhere.” .

Foreign governments, including the U.S., Sweden, Greece, France, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan, have condemned the attack.

Speaking Sunday while surveying the wreckage, local resident Ibrahim Ozdemir said people are in shock.

“Mahmut Togrul, a lawmaker with the Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party, said the the bride and groom, Besna and Nurettin Akdogan, survived the attack and are in stable condition”, Togrul said.

At least 44 people were killed.

“Dear brothers and sisters, I have heard of the sad news of the bloody attack yesterday which struck the beloved Turkey”, the Pope said on Sunday, after leading pilgrims in praying the traditional Angelus prayer.

“Let us be clear – these children are victims, not perpetrators”, regional UNICEF director Manuel Fontaine said of the children used by Boko Haram.