The United Nations, Nato, European Union and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) condemned the bombings that took place in Turkey's largest city of Istanbul on the night of July 27 2008.

The two explosions killed 17 people and injured over 150 in the worst attack against civilians in the country since 2003. The bombs went off at about 10pm in the busy Gungoren neighbourhood in Istanbul. The second blast, which took place several minutes after the first one and some reportedly 50 meters away, was the more powerful of the two.

The spokesperson for UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said that Ban “deeply regrets the loss of life and conveys his sympathies to the families of the victims and the wounded”.

Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer also slammed the attacks and voiced the allies' support for Turkey. “I condemn in the strongest terms the bombings that occurred in Istanbul yesterday evening,” he said on July 28. “These appalling terrorist attacks targeted innocent civilians in a deliberate and brutal way.  On behalf of the allies, I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, and my sympathies to those injured in the blasts. Nato will continue to stand firmly in solidarity with the Turkish people in the fight against terrorism,” he added.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana defined the attacks as “despicable” and “heinous”. “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the despicable bombing attack [...] I express my deepest condolences and my heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims and to the Turkish government. I also wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. In these difficult moments, Turkey can count on the support of the European Union. I hope that the perpetrators of this heinous terrorist act will be swiftly brought to justice,” Solana said.

OSCE chairman-in-office, Finnish foreign minister Alexander Stubb, also expressed his support for those who suffered from the blasts saying, “I condemn these attacks unequivocally. I express my most sincere condolences to the Turkish people and in particular to those who were injured and to the families of the dead.”