The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has condemned a foiled terrorist attack in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, in which two police officers were injured.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a defense industry factory on Tuesday, Erdoğan said: “We condemn the heinous attack in Istanbul, which was prevented thanks to the intervention of our heroic security forces.”
He emphasized that Turkey will continue its fight against all forms of terrorism and will not allow “low-level and premeditated provocations” to undermine the country’s security climate, reports TRT World.
On Tuesday, three terrorists were neutralized during an armed clash with police who were working to prevent the attack, while two police officers sustained minor injuries.
The Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office immediately launched an investigation into the incident.
Turkey’s Interior Minister stated that the suspects involved in the armed clash with police have been identified, adding that “one had links to a group that exploits religion,” while the other had a background related to drug offenses.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice said that initial findings indicate the attack targeted Turkish police officers deployed in that area.
