Russian President Vladimir Putin says the recent bomb attack in Turkey shows that terrorism follows no rules or moralities.
Putin made the comments in a telegram sent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday, in which he expressed his condolence for the deadly wedding bombing attack in the southeastern province of Gaziantep.
The bombing is proof that "terrorism doesn't recognize not only the laws of civilized society but also the very basic norms of human morality," said Putin.
He also noted that the incident was shocking in its "cruelty and cynicism" but is also a reminder that the international community must further cooperate in the battle against terrorism.
According to a statement released by the Kremlin, Putin also voiced his readiness to boost anti-terror operations with Turkey.
Late on Saturday, at least 51 people were killed and more than 69 injured in the terrorist attack that took place in the Sahinbey district’s Akdere neighborhood.
"The explosion was the result of a … bomber aged between 12 and 14 who either detonated (the bomb) or others detonated it," said Erdogan.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the incident, while expressing his “deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims.”
“The secretary-general hopes that the perpetrators of this act will be quickly identified and brought to justice. He again stresses the need to intensify regional and international efforts to prevent and combat terrorism and violent extremism,” read a statement released by his office on Sunday.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also sent a telegram to Turkey expressing “her "deepest sorrow" over the attack.
"Once again innocent men, women and children are the victims of cowardly and perfidious violence; I condemn this attack in the strongest terms," Merkel said.She added that Germany's thoughts are with the attack’s victims and their families. "I assure you that the German government will continue to stand closely at Turkey's side in the fight against terrorism," she said.
The US ambassador to Turkey, John Bass, also slammed the "barbaric attack" adding that "we stand by our ally Turkey and pledge to continue to work closely together to defeat the common threat of terrorism."
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qasemi strongly condemned the bomb blast, adding that such acts of terror showed how the ominous and dangerous phenomenon of terrorism threatens the international community in order to achieve its inhuman goals.
“Carrying out such terrorist acts in a wedding ceremony and the killing of defenseless people and civilians once again clearly displayed the ominous and anti-human goals of Takfiri terrorism,” said Qasemi.