Pope sends condolence message for Turkish bombing victims

Pope Benedict XVI today sent a condolence message for the victims of a bombing in Turkey that destroyed a minibus, calling it a “horrible attack”.

Five people were killed in the bombing, including Irish teenager Tara Whelan, on Saturday at a popular Aegean beach resort town and at least 12 people were injured. No group claimed responsibility, but suspicion fell on Kurdish guerrillas.

The Pope invoked God’s mercy on the victims, expressed his sympathy to the wounded and said he felt close to Turkish authorities and the Turkish people in the message sent to the Papal envoy in Ankara and released by the Vatican.