Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis condemned the terrorist attacks in Istanbul on Tuesday, June 29, and said that Romania would remain engaged in fighting international terrorism.

At least 36 people were killed and some 150 more were injured after a bomb and gun attack at the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, on Tuesday evening, June 28.

“The terrorist attacks that took place on Tuesday night in Istanbul are an atrocity. Tens of people lost their lives and more than 140 were injured following an act of cruelty against innocent people,” Iohannis said. He also expressed his condolences for the victims’ families.

No Romanians were injured in the attacks. However, some 40 Romanians asked the Romanian Consulate in Istanbul for support after the attacks, as their flight to Bucharest on Tuesday night was cancelled.

Romania’s former Prime Minister Victor Ponta said he was in Istanbul, just 10 minutes away from the airport, when the attacks occurred. He was supposed to return to Romania with the midnight flight which was cancelled.

“I regret the victims of this barbaric tragedy and I’m happy that all the Romanians who were at the airport are fine. I will continue to go to Istanbul as often as I can (as I will go to Brussels and Paris)! If we are afraid, the terrorists win! If we show courage and solidarity then we, the normal people, win!” Ponta wrote on his Facebook page, where he displayed the message “Je suis Istanbul”.

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editor@romania-insider.com