The two bombs that exploded outside a football stadium on Saturday killed dozens of people, and left more than a hundred injured. It is still unclear who was responsible for the attack. Investigations, stressed Chancellor Angela Merkel, must "be proportionate and compatible with the rule of law".

On Sunday the Chancellor spoke by telephone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. She conveyed her personal sympathy and that of the German government.

Sympathy for the families of victims

Angela Merkel asked the President to convey her deepest sympathy to the families of victims. She offered any assistance required to care for the wounded. The Chancellor and the President agreed to step up cooperation to combat terrorism.

Turkey and Germany already cooperate closely in the field of anti-terrorism. Membership of the Kurdish underground organisations PKK, for instance, is a punishable offence in Germany. The annual report of Germany’s intelligence services offers additional information on the activities of the PKK.

"We join our Turkish partners in mourning"

Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his deep shock at the brutal terrorist attacks. "We join our Turkish partners in mourning. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families and friends. We wish the many injured a speedy recovery ," he said.

Once again the attacks targeted primarily security forces who were patrolling the streets surrounding the football stadium in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. They also target a society of sports fans who were trying to recover from the dreadful attacks of recent months and return to a sense of normality.