A suicide bomber killed at least 10 people and seriously injured another 15 in an terrorist attack near the Sultanahmet square in Istanbul, Turkey.
The bomb blast was detonated near the Obelisk of Theodosius just a short walking distance from two of the most iconic landmarks of the city – the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
Arsenal star Mesut Özil joined a growing number of footballers who condemned the attacks and he also extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
Özil shared an Instagram image of the Blue Mosque alongside a caption that read: “My deepest condolences to the victims’ families #prayforistanbul #sultanahmet.”
The World Cup winner is one of three ethnic Turks in the Germany national team with the other two being Emre Can and İlkay Gündoğan.
Özil is bi-lingual in Turkish and German and regularly visits Istanbul as well as other regions of Turkey.
The Arsenal play-maker was joined by Arda Turan as well as a number of other players such as Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Beşiktaş winger Gökhan Töre in condemning the attack.
Turan who was born in Istanbul in the nearby Bayrampaşa district took to Instagram to share an image of the silhouette of the Blue Mosque alongside the caption pray for Istanbul and Sultanahmet.
