Iran deplores terrorist attack against Turkish diplomats in Erbil

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Iranian foreign ministry condemned the terrorist attack against Turkish diplomats in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan region which killed two and wounded another person.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi expressed sympathy with the Turkish government and nation, specially families of the victims.

"Terrorism is a horrible phenomenon that has inflicted huge losses on the regional states and the only way to tackle it is joint fighting by the global community and ending political, financial, weaponry and ideological aid to them," he said.

A Turkish diplomat was killed after gunmen entered an upscale restaurant where he was dining and opened fire in Erbil, capital of the Kurdish autonomous region in Iraq.

Intelligence sources said that another individual was killed in Wednesday's shooting, while one person was wounded.

The attackers escaped the Huq Qabaz restaurant through the back door and security forces were searching for them.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the attack on the restaurant was carried out by three people. The assailants also fired at Iraqi nationals sitting at a table next to Turkish consulate employees, killing one and seriously wounding another, the minister said.

"We are continuing our contacts so that details concerning the issue of the apprehension of the assailants, and what is behind the attack, are brought to light," Cavusoglu said.

No immediate claim of responsibility was made for the shooting.

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