A young boy was among two victims killed in a car bomb attack in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, the governor said Friday. The 10-year-old victim was killed in the explosion near a complex that houses judges and prosecutors in the Viransehir district, according to the governorate, and 15 others were injured.
Gov. Gungor Azim Tuna initially said the victim was 3 years old. The office added that the body of a neighborhood guard was later found in the debris following the blast that occurred at 8.45 p.m. local time (1745GMT). Tuna said a young male -- about 18-20 years of age -- parked the vehicle bomb near the housing complex.
“The terrorist attack was carried out by detonating the bomb-laden car via remote control. The housing complex was severely damaged,” Tuna added. The child who died in the blast was the son of a court clerk, and the injured were taken to local hospitals, he said
The governor added that he briefed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who expressed condolences for the victims, especially for the boy who was killed, as hoped for a quick recovery for the injured. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim condemned the attack and promised terrorists would be eradicated. "The terrorist organizations, which kill the innocence of children and intend to kill lives, will disappear with all their elements," he said. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag also denounced the attack.
“This terrorist attack was carried out against not only the judiciary but also our law, our justice, our nation, and our unity. No terrorist organization or terrorist attack will deter Turkey’s fight against terror,” Bozdag wrote on Twitter. In the past year, Turkey has suffered a number of attacks from terrorist groups. including Daesh and the PKK.
Last July, the country also underwent a failed coup that martyred 248 people and injured more than 2,200. The Fetullah Terrorist Organization is blamed for the defeated putsch.