BRITAIN’S trade unions united yesterday to condemn the bombing of a left-wing rally in Turkey at the weekend.

Trade union liaison officer for peace in Kurdistan and Unison Scotland deputy convener Stephen Smellie criticised the Turkish government for claiming to fight terrorism yet carrying out attacks on PKK bases in Iraq while it is fighting against Isis.

Mr Smellie said that “many people in Turkey believe that the state was behind the attacks” citing that no police officers were injured or killed despite the scale of the bomb blasts.

He said that state violence had not been restricted to attacks on Kurdish organisations but that “trade union and left activists have also been targeted.”

GMB international officer Bert Schouwenburg said his union was “outraged” by the attack and called on the Turkish government to end hostilities against the PKK and the Kurdish population.

Mr Schouwenburg called for a negotiated settlement to end the conflict, adding that “there can be no lasting peace without the full involvement and participation of the Kurdish community and we reiterate our call for the release of their leader Abdullah Ocalan so that he can play a full part in that process.”

He said the Turkish authorities should do all they can to bring the perpetrators of the atrocity to justice and ensure citizens were protected when they exercise their right to peaceful protest.

PCS also condemned the violence against peaceful demonstrators and extended “heartfelt condolences to the people of Turkey” and in particular the victims of the blasts.

The death toll is currently 128, with many hundreds wounded.