TERROR IN ISTANBUL

At least 13 killed in double explosions in Istanbul

Sunday, July 27, 2008

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

Two consecutive explosions in Güngören district of Istanbul, a busy shopping center, killed at least 13 people and injured around 70 others, Muammer Güler Istanbul Governor announced late Sunday.

“It’s a terror attack,” Güler told reporters. He said it was still early to estimate who was behind the explosion. But the private NTV said the security forces estimate that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, could carry out such a terrorist attack.

The first bomb, left in a bin, exploded around 21.55 p.m. local time which was followed by another one 15 minutes later, increasing more death tolls. The victims were killed by the second explosion as the first explosion in a telephone kiosk brought people out onto the street.

The images broadcast by NTV showed scenes of panic, with people covered in blood and disoriented as they ran from the area of the blasts, littered with debris and shattered glass. Teams of firefighters and emergency workers were dispatched to the scene and police established a security perimeter.

Two weeks ago, three police officers and three assailants were killed in an exchange of fire outside the US consulate in Istanbul. Güler said the police was investigating a possible link between the two incidents.

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