Turkey condemns attack on Champs-Elysees in Paris

By Meltem Bulur

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned in a statement Thursday evening's deadly attack targeting police officers in the famous Champs-Elysees boulevard in the French capital.

"Turkey and the Turkish people, who have been subjected to similar attacks many times, understand and share the suffering of the French people," the statement said.

"We would like to express our condolences to the friendly French nation and the French police department with whom we are in solidarity on this difficult day," it said, adding Turkey would continue to support France in the fight against terrorism.

In Thursday's attack, the attacker was killed after opening fire on a police vehicle with what witnesses described as a Kalashnikov assault rifle at around 9 p.m. local time (1900GMT) and attempting to flee.

The assault left one police officer dead and two others injured, one of whom remains in hospital.

French police arrested three people overnight following the shooting, local media reported Friday.

The attack came less than three days before French voters were due to go to the polls in presidential elections.

Three of the main candidates in Sunday’s poll called off planned events on Friday, the final day of campaigning.