2008 Istanbul bombings
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| 2008 Istanbul bombings | |
| Location |  Istanbul, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Date | July 27, 2008 18:45 (UTC) |
| Attack type | Bombings |
| Deaths | 17 [1] |
| Injured | 154 |
| Suspected perpetrator(s) | Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) (denies involvement[1]) |
The 2008 Istanbul bombings occurred on July 27, 2008 when two explosions hit a busy shopping street in the Güngören district of Istanbul, killing seventeen people, five of them children,[1] and injuring 154.[2] The attacks occurred at 9:45 p.m. local time, 18:45 UTC,[3] on a pedestrian street closed to traffic.[4] The bombings were the deadliest civilian attacks in Turkey since the 2003 Istanbul bombings, five years earlier.[5]
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[edit] Details
First of the two bombs which was a sonic bomb was placed in a telephone cabin and second bomb was placed in a waste container 50 meters apart, near a crowded street.[1] The first bomb caused crowds to gather for help and curiosity, and around 10 minutes later, the second and more powerful bomb exploded, causing many of the casualties.[6] The police believe that the bombs were activated remotely.[2] Political analyst Damla Aras said that, "there is a possibility they might be A4, C-4 explosives, which were brought from northern Iraq by the PKK and have been used several times in Turkey."[7]
Early on, news sources thought the first explosion was caused by a gas leak.[7]
[edit] Investigation
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the bombing as yet, although Kurdish separatist militants are suspected.[6] The Istanbul Police indicate that the incident bears the hallmarks of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), possibly in revenge for a series of major operations by the Turkish military on its bases days prior to the incident.[2] However a senior member of the PKK, Zubeyir Aydar, denied the implication: "The Kurdish liberation movement is not involved in this attack."[1]
Based on a tip from residents, three teenagers were taken into custody in connection to the bombings.[8]
Nine people were indicted in December 2008 over the bombings.[9]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Istanbul bomb attacks kill 17". AFP. 2008-07-07. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jl5Of8Rk7UJyxwWurbEN3r71UUFA. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
- ^ a b c "Deadly blasts hit Istanbul street". BBC. 2008-07-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7527977.stm. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Double bombing kills 17, injures more than 150 in Turkey's Istanbul". Hurriyet. 2008-07-27. http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/9529506.asp?gid=244&sz=55577. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Istanbul blasts kill 17 and injure more than 150". The Age. 2008-07-28. http://www.theage.com.au/world/istanbul-blasts-kill-17-and-injure-more-than-150-20080728-3m8v.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Turkey Blames Kurdish Rebels For Istanbul Blasts That Killed 17". Wall Street Journal. 2008-07-28. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121724008479989537.html?mod=googlenews_wsj. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
- ^ a b Arsu, Sebnem (2008-07-28). "Bombs Kill 15 in a Crowded Istanbul Neighborhood". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/world/europe/28turkey.html?hp. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
- ^ a b "Deadly bombings hit Istanbul". Al Jazeera. 2008-07-28. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2008/07/2008727193036298109.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
- ^ "3 teenagers detained for Istanbul attack". NDTV. 2008-07-28. http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080059139&ch=7/28/2008%206:39:00%20PM. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Prosecutors say PKK responsible for Turkey's twin bomb attack". Hurriyet. 2008-12-17. http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/10588200.asp?scr=1. Retrieved on 2008-12-18.
