Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn on today’s terrorist attack on Sultanahmet Square in the heart of Istanbul’s tourist district

An explosion believed to be caused by a suicide bombing rocked İstanbul's central Sultanahmet Square, a major tourist attraction, on the 12 January 2016, leaving 10 people dead and 15 wounded. Officials said most of those killed were German nationals.

Turkish officials suggested that the suicide bomber was a member of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn issued a joint statement on 12 January 2016. The European Union expressed support with Turkey, saying it stood with Turkey in the fight 'against all forms of terrorism'.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 12.01.16: Turkey: Several dead in suicide blast in central Istanbul Sultanahmet district http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35290760

The Guardian, 12.01.16: Ten dead as explosion rocks square in central Istanbul http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/12/explosion-istanbul-square-sultanahmet-turkey

Euronews, 12.01.16: Turkey: Explosion hits Istanbul’s main tourist district http://www.euronews.com/2016/01/12/explosion-in-istanbul-s-central-sultanahmet-square-turkish-media-report-some/

ESO: Background Information: International Summit: Meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey, Brussels, 29 November 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/international-summit-meeting-of-the-eu-heads-of-state-or-government-with-turkey-brussels-29-november-2015/

Deutsche Welle, 13.01.16: Germany's interior minister to visit Turkey following Istanbul terrorist attack http://dw.com/p/1HcE3

Deutsche Welle, 13.01.16: Turkey arrests Russian suspects after Istanbul attack http://dw.com/p/1HcGq

EUObserver, 13.01.16: IS targets European tourists in Istanbul attack https://euobserver.com/foreign/131808

Today's Zaman, 12.01.16: At least 10 killed as suicide bombing rocks historic İstanbul square http://www.todayszaman.com/national_at-least-10-killed-as-suicide-bombing-rocks-historic-i-stanbul-square_409409.html

Today's Zaman: Tag: Terrorism http://www.todayszaman.com/index/terrorism

EurActiv, 12.01.16: Istanbul suicide bomb victims mostly German http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/istanbul-suicide-bomb-victims-mostly-german-320903

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 13.01.16: Attack on tourists in Istanbul http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER176136-Attack-on-tourists-in-Istanbul

Today's Zaman, 13.01.16: Turkish minister: 1 person detained in connection with İstanbul suicide attack http://www.todayszaman.com/national_turkish-minister-1-person-detained-in-connection-with-i-stanbul-suicide-attack_409507.html

Deutsche Welle, 13.01.16: 'No evidence Istanbul attackers targeted Germans' http://dw.com/p/1HcPs

BBC News, 13.01.16: Turkey: IS suspects held after Istanbul suicide bombing http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35302189

EurActiv, 13.01.16: No evidence that Germans were singled out in Istanbul bombing http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/no-evidence-germans-were-singled-out-istanbul-bombing-320927

Spiegel Online International, 15.01.16: Striking the Heart of Europe: Turkey's Failed Anti-Extremism Strategy http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/attacks-in-turkey-symptomatic-of-failed-strategy-for-extremism-a-1072287.html

The Conversation, 20.01.16: Erdoğan’s Turkey: anti-terror crackdown claims freedom as its victim http://theconversation.com/erdogans-turkey-anti-terror-crackdown-claims-freedom-as-its-victim-52926

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