Turkish leaders decry terror attack at Izmir courthouse

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish leaders have condemned Thursday the terrorist attack near the main courthouse in Turkey's western coastal city of Izmir, which left a police officer and an officer of the court martyred and five others injured.

According to Izmir Governor Erol Ayyildiz, terrorists detonated a car-bomb during clash with security forces when police officers wanted to stop a suspicious vehicle at the checkpoint in front of the courthouse.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack on his official Twitter account, saying Turkey would never allow terror to polarize the society.

"I condemn the terrorist attack in Izmir and wish Allah's mercy for our martyred police officer who prevented a great tragedy and a clerk who lost his life [in the attack]," Erdogan wrote.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also condemned the attack in a message saying: "I strongly condemn this heinous attack carried out in Izmir -- one of the symbolic provinces for our War of Independence -- which targeted our social peace."

Yildirim said Turkey will overcome the hard days with unity, solidarity and a determined faith.

According to prime ministry sources, the prime minister departed for Izmir where he will make remarks at the Adnan Menderes Airport over the terror attack.

He is also expected to visit the scene of the attack and pay a visit to the wounded citizens in hospitals.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reacted to the terror attack as he shared a message from his official Twitter account.

"You will not be able to disrupt our unity," Cavusoglu wrote.

In a post on his official Twitter account, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu also condemned the attack.

"Every province of our country has been facing terror. Turkey does not deserve it," he tweeted.

Two suspects were also detained in Izmir in connection with the terror blast, according to security sources who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.