UPDATE - Turkey condoles death of Italian diplomat in attack

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT BY TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY; REVISES LEDE, MINOR EDITS

By Havva Kara Aydin

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey on Monday offered condolences on the killing of an Italian diplomat in an attack on a UN convoy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Luca Attanasio 43, was among three people killed along with Italian police officer Vittorio Lacovacci, 30, and their Congolese World Food Program driver.

According to local sources, the convoy was attacked in an attempted kidnapping near Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

“We strongly condemn this heinous attack. We share the grief of friendly people and the Government of Italy,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, extending condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted that he was “deeply shocked and saddened," over the killings, and expressed "Heartfelt condolences to friendly Italy, bereaved families and the Italian nation."