Romanian Mufti deplores loss of human lives in Istanbul terrorist attack

Mufti Muurat Yusuf, speaking on behalf of Romania's entire Muslim community, expressed compassion with the families whose beloved ones - members or friends - were killed or injured in the terrorist attack carried out on Tuesday by a suicide bomber in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square. 

According to a release to AGERPRES, the head of the Romanian Muslim Community said he is endlessly saddened by the bloody attack of unimaginable cruelty and voiced bitterness over such deviant interpretations of Islam's precepts by so-called Muslims, conveying at the same time condolences to the Embassy of Turkey in Romania. 

"We, the Muslim Community of Romania, deplore the criminal action of the suicide terrorist in Istanbul who cut short his own life, killing ten and wounding another fifteen people. Such bloody actions carried out with a fanaticism and cruelty that have nothing to do with Islam, are explicit proof that the attackers that carry them out are not Muslim confession brothers, as per our religious precepts, the teachings of Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad. Islam categorically forbids killing any soul and is above all against bloodshed. I therefore condemn these acts of terrorism and convey my condolences to the grieving families and the Turkish Muslim brothers of faith!" is Mufti Muurat Yusuf's message. 

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, cited by AFP and Reuters, said the bomber had been identified from body parts at the scene as a Syrian national born in 1988. 

The suicide attack in Istanbul's historic heart killed 10 and wounded 15. The Turkish Vice-President said most of those killed were foreign citizens, and that two of the 15 wounded are in a serious condition. 

Sources in Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's office said nine of those killed were Germans, DPA informs. AGERPRES