'Attacks on civilians constitute terrorism, not jihad'

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday attacks on places of worship stem from the same "dark source".

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Camlica Mosque complex, the largest mosque of Turkey, Erdogan said he is "determined to clear the nation and region of Daesh, PKK, FETO, Al Qaeda terrorists".

"Attacks in the name of religion on places of worship or innocent civilians constitute terrorism, not jihad," said Erdogan.

The 63,000-capacity mosque on Istanbul's Camlica Hill in the Asian side of the city was opened by Erdogan for Friday prayer.

Built in the Ottoman-Seljuk style of architecture, the mosque can be easily viewed from every corner of the city.