Chief advisor to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Yiğit Bulut, was speaking live on state broadcaster TRT when the attack happened. Initially, the TV channel did not cover the attack and continued the program, in which Bulut said the broadcasters who had covered it should not exaggerate the news.
“Does it make you any taller when you report the bombings?” Bulut said, criticizing reporters. He claimed the attack aimed to prevent the reconciliation processes between Russia and Israel.
Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Kerem Ali Sürekli also wrote, “After every diplomatic victory we have there is an incident. We will not lose heart!” on Twitter.
Another AKP deputy, Şamil Tayyar, lashed out at the people who criticized the media blackout on the Istanbul attack in a live interview with Beyaz TV, which is owned by the son of Ankara mayor Melih Gökçek. “I hope the people who criticize the media blackout die in a bombing like this,” Tayyar said.