Funeral for Turkey bomb victim

Pall bearers with the coffin of Nanette Kurma

The funeral has been held for an Ayrshire woman killed in last week's bomb attack on the British Consulate in Istanbul.

More than 200 mourners attended a small church for the funeral of Nanette Elizabeth Kurma.

The 41-year-old's husband, a Turkish national, her three children, grandchildren and other family members were among the congregation at Schaw Kirk in her hometown of Drongan.

Mrs Kurma worked for the consulate as an interpreter with bereaved families.

Two suicide bomb blasts in the Turkish city on 20 November killed 28 people, including four Britons.

Radical Islamic groups

More than 400 people were injured in the attacks on the consulate and the HQ of the HSBC bank in the city.

Turkish officials said the bombers were Turkish nationals with links to radical Islamic groups.

At the funeral of Mrs Kurma, pall-bearers carried the coffin draped in a Saltire and floral wreaths - one of which formed the word "Mum" - into the church.

Ms Kurma had lived in Turkey for a number of years

Rev Paul Russell, conducting the service, urged the congregation not to thirst for vengeance over Nanette's death.

In his sermon, he said: "In an evil terrorist atrocity such as this we naturally feel anger towards those responsible.

"We are right to feel the need for justice, yes, but for retaliation, no.

"That is nothing but the way of bitterness and the destruction of our own humanity."

Mr Russell instead urged the mourners to celebrate the life of the grandmother, who left the UK several years ago to live in Istanbul with her husband.

The congregation then made their way to Drongan Cemetery, where Nanette was laid to rest in a private ceremony.

A message on the funeral order of service read: "The family here are united with all those mourning the effects of this tragedy in Turkey and elsewhere and wish to send their thoughts and prayers at this time to the family in Turkey in their time of sadness."