Israel Matzav

Suicide bomber in Istanbul wounds 22

It was just this morning that I reported that the Turkish Red Book had declared Israel to be the 'central threat' to Turkey. Perhaps this will make them reconsider (Hat Tip: Will).

A suicide bomber attack in İstanbul's main square has caused a number of injuries. The explosion occurred Sunday morning on Taksim square, close to a spot where police are stationed. A witness says ambulances have arrived on the scene and medics are attending to the injured. According to first reports, 15 people were injured.

Turkish TV channels say the explosion occurred Sunday on Taksim square, close to a spot where police are stationed.

A witness says ambulances have arrived on the scene and medics are attending to the injured.

Here's a later report.

A suspected suicide bomber wounded 22 people including 10 police officers in the centre of Turkey's biggest city on Sunday in an attack targeting police.

"It was a suicide bomb and it appears as if the bomber blew himself up. It appears to be a male body," İstanbul police chief Hüseyin Çapkın told reporters.

Twelve civilians and 10 policemen were wounded in the attack in Taksim Square, İstanbul, local governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu told reporters. No organisation has claimed responsibility.

A taxi driver told CNN Türk news channel he saw a 30 to 33 year-old man approach the police to ask directions, at which point the bomb detonated.

Another witness said two men had approached the police.

CNN-Türk said a second bomb was found close to the dead bomber, but state-run Anatolian news agency said parts of a bomb were found and it was unclear if it was part of the exploded bomb or a second device.

Taksim square is a major tourist attraction and transport hub, surrounded by restaurants, shops and hotels, and at the heart of modern İstanbul. It houses the Republic Monument which was built in 1928 to commemorate the creation of the Turkish Republic.

The article goes on to list the prime suspects as being al-Qaeda and the Kurdish PKK. Amazing they haven't blamed Israel, isn't it?

But don't worry. We're still the central threat to Turkey anyway.

By the way, there are some pictures at that last link (aside from the one I posted). They're lucky it's Sunday so the streets were likely relatively quiet.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:58 PM