The Foreign Minister of Turkey His Excellency Professor Ahmet Daavutoglu has expressed his government’s deepest regrets over the shooting incident involving four Liberians that took place in Istanbul early this month. The Turkish Foreign Minister who spoke in a telephone conversation with Liberia’s Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan said all efforts are being exerted by security forces in Istanbul to have the perpetrator arrested and brought to justice.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, Foreign Minister Ngafuan had earlier called his counterpart’s attention to the need for proper post surgical medical care for the victims. Minister Ngafuan also called on his Turkish counterpart to ensure proper security for the four and other Liberians living in Turkey in order to avert any possible recurrence of the situation. The Liberian Foreign Minister also urged Turkish authorities to step up efforts aimed at ensuring the shooter is speedily brought to justice.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dispatched Senior Ambassador-at-Large, Marcus Kofa, to the Republic of Turkey on a special mission. Ambassador Kofa arrived in Istanbul on Sunday and met with the victims Monday morning. Ambassador Kofa informed headquarters that arrangements have been concluded for the victims to be given continued and adequate medical attention by Turkish authorities. The Foreign Ministry release said Ambassador Kofa is now heading for Turkey’s political capital Ankara where he will hold talks with Turkish Government authorities on the unfortunate incident and the need to bring it to a mutually acceptable conclusion.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also announced that it is fully sponsoring the travel of one of the family members of the victims to Turkey to see at first hand their condition and to also provide domestic care for them. The family member is to depart Liberia during the week of April 21^st.

It can be recalled that an unknown gunman at a coffe shop located in Sisli Mecediyeko around the Trump Tower in Istanbul shot and seriously wounded four Liberians. The four Liberians are Bemore N. Toe, Patience Roberts, Deddeh Simmonds and Blessing Vinton.