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Bombs strike Istanbul neighborhood, killing 13
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-28 06:52 ISTANBUL, Turkey - Two bombs exploded minutes apart in an Istanbul square packed with people Sunday night, killing 13 and injuring about 70 in what the city governor said was a terror attack.
Many people were injured in the second blast after they rushed to the area to help the casualties of the first explosion in the working class Gungoren neighborhood, witnesses said. The blasts were about 10 minutes apart. "There is no doubt that this is a terror attack," Gov. Muammer Guler told reporters. "The fact that there was a crowd in the area has increased the number of casualties," he added. The governor said police were investigating who was behind the blasts. CNN-Turk television, citing security sources, said police suspect Kurdish rebels may be responsible for the attack. It said intelligence reports had suggested the rebels were planning a bombing campaign in Turkish cities. However, officials did not accuse any specific group. "We know it is a terrorist attack, but which organization is responsible -- we don't yet have that information," Deputy Prime Minister Hayati Yazici told journalists at the scene of the attacks. Kurdish, leftist and Islamic militants are active in Istanbul and have carried out past bombings in the city. On July 9, gunmen believed to be inspired by al-Qaida opened fire on police guarding the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, killing three officers. Three attackers also died in a shootout with police. Both of Sunday's blasts were in a square closed to traffic where people congregate at night. An Associated Press reporter who arrived to the scene shortly after the explosions saw at least 12 people lying on the ground. Broken glass, clothing, shop mannequins and other debris were strewn on the ground and bomb squads in white overalls were inspecting the scene. "The first explosion was in a telephone booth," said Huseyin Senturk, who owns a shoe shop in the area. "The second explosion was some 40 meters (yards) away." "The first explosion was not very strong, Senturk added. "Several people came to see what was going on. That's when the second explosion occurred and it injured many onlookers." The second explosion could be heard a mile away. |
