Jump to content

March 2016 Istanbul bombing: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 41°2′6″N 28°58′52″E / 41.03500°N 28.98111°E / 41.03500; 28.98111
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Liesbeth98 (talk | contribs)
431 edits
Undid revision 711397375 by Laberkiste (talk) perpetrator is not a victim, stop including him
Liesbeth98 (talk | contribs)
431 edits
relation to February bombing
Tags: nowiki added Visual edit
Line 65: Line 65:


=== Perpetrator ===
=== Perpetrator ===
While the authorities were quick to blame the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]] (PKK),<ref name=reupkk /> only upon further investigation in the afternoon, the Turkish authorities changed their initial assessment, now instead holding the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL) accountable.<ref name=Ynet>{{cite news |title=Alleged Turkish terrorist suspected of previous attacks, Syrian connection |newspaper=[[Yedioth Ahronoth]] |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4780607,00.html |date=20 March 2016 |accessdate=20 March 2016}}</ref> According to ''[[Milliyet]],'' Turkish authorities never ruled out ISIL as suspects early on. According to the newspaper, the fact that the attack occurred near a group of tourists indeed suggested an ISIL involvement.<ref name=mil>{{cite news|title=İstiklal Caddesi'nde canlı bomba saldırısı!|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/istiklal-caddesi-nde-patlama-gundem-2212382/|accessdate=19 March 2016}}</ref> PKK umbrella organization [[Group of Communities in Kurdistan|KCK]] said it opposed targeting civilians and condemned attacks on them.<ref name=Reuters>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-blast-idUSKCN0WL0D5|title=Suicide bomber kills four, wounds 36 in Istanbul shopping district|quote=The Kurdish-rooted opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) condemned the bombing. The PKK's umbrella group said it opposed targeting civilians and condemned attacks on them.|accessdate=19 March 2016}}</ref>
While the authorities were quick to blame the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]] (PKK) given the [[February 2016 Ankara bombing|Ankara bombing in Februar]]<nowiki/>y,<ref name=reupkk /> only upon further investigation in the afternoon, the Turkish authorities changed their initial assessment, now instead holding the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL) accountable.<ref name=Ynet>{{cite news |title=Alleged Turkish terrorist suspected of previous attacks, Syrian connection |newspaper=[[Yedioth Ahronoth]] |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4780607,00.html |date=20 March 2016 |accessdate=20 March 2016}}</ref> According to ''[[Milliyet]],'' Turkish authorities never ruled out ISIL as suspects early on. According to the newspaper, the fact that the attack occurred near a group of tourists indeed suggested an ISIL involvement.<ref name=mil>{{cite news|title=İstiklal Caddesi'nde canlı bomba saldırısı!|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/istiklal-caddesi-nde-patlama-gundem-2212382/|accessdate=19 March 2016}}</ref> PKK umbrella organization [[Group of Communities in Kurdistan|KCK]] said it opposed targeting civilians and condemned attacks on them.<ref name=Reuters>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-blast-idUSKCN0WL0D5|title=Suicide bomber kills four, wounds 36 in Istanbul shopping district|quote=The Kurdish-rooted opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) condemned the bombing. The PKK's umbrella group said it opposed targeting civilians and condemned attacks on them.|accessdate=19 March 2016}}</ref>


The next day, Turkish authorities announced that Mehmet Öztürk was reliably identified by DNA tests to be the suicide bomber of the Istanbul attack. Born 1992 in [[Gaziantep Province]] and thought to be affiliated with ISIL,<ref name=NYTOzturk /><ref name=AAOzturk /> he was one of two Turkish suspects the authorities were investigating. The day before, ''[[Sabah (newspaper)|Sabah]]'' had named Özturk and 33 years old ISIL militant Savaş Yıldız from [[Adana]],<ref>{{cite news |title='Canlı bomba' şüphelileri için DNA örneği alındı |newspaper=[[Sabah]] |url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2016/03/19/canli-bomba-suphelileri-icin-dna-ornegi-alindi |date=19 March 2016 |accessdate=19 March 2016 |language=tr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=İddia doğruysa, İstiklal'deki canlı bombanın yeşil kartı bile var! |newspaper=[[Cumhuriyet]] |url=http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/500929/iddia_dogruysa__istiklal_deki_canli_bombanin_yesil_karti_bile_var_.html |date=19 March 2016 |accessdate=19 March 2016 |language=tr}}</ref> who is also thought to be involved in the [[October 2015 Ankara bombings]] killing more than 100 civilians. In the night, authorities arrested Yıldız' parents.<ref name=Ynet /><ref>{{cite news |title=Suspected Istanbul bomber – A said ISIS terrorist known to Turkish authorities |newspaper=[[Jerusalem Post]] |url=http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-Threat/Suspected-Istanbul-bomber-an-ISIS-terrorist-known-to-Turkish-authorities-448540 |accessdate=20 March 2016}}</ref>
The next day, Turkish authorities announced that Mehmet Öztürk was reliably identified by DNA tests to be the suicide bomber of the Istanbul attack. Born 1992 in [[Gaziantep Province]] and thought to be affiliated with ISIL,<ref name=NYTOzturk /><ref name=AAOzturk /> he was one of two Turkish suspects the authorities were investigating. The day before, ''[[Sabah (newspaper)|Sabah]]'' had named Özturk and 33 years old ISIL militant Savaş Yıldız from [[Adana]],<ref>{{cite news |title='Canlı bomba' şüphelileri için DNA örneği alındı |newspaper=[[Sabah]] |url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2016/03/19/canli-bomba-suphelileri-icin-dna-ornegi-alindi |date=19 March 2016 |accessdate=19 March 2016 |language=tr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=İddia doğruysa, İstiklal'deki canlı bombanın yeşil kartı bile var! |newspaper=[[Cumhuriyet]] |url=http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/500929/iddia_dogruysa__istiklal_deki_canli_bombanin_yesil_karti_bile_var_.html |date=19 March 2016 |accessdate=19 March 2016 |language=tr}}</ref> who is also thought to be involved in the [[October 2015 Ankara bombings]] killing more than 100 civilians. In the night, authorities arrested Yıldız' parents.<ref name=Ynet /><ref>{{cite news |title=Suspected Istanbul bomber – A said ISIS terrorist known to Turkish authorities |newspaper=[[Jerusalem Post]] |url=http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-Threat/Suspected-Istanbul-bomber-an-ISIS-terrorist-known-to-Turkish-authorities-448540 |accessdate=20 March 2016}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:45, 22 March 2016

For the January bombing, see January 2016 Istanbul bombing.
March 2016 Istanbul bombing
Demirören AVM on İstiklal Avenue,
near which the bombing took place.
Locationİstiklal Avenue, Taksim, Istanbul, Turkey
Coordinates41°2′6″N 28°58′52″E / 41.03500°N 28.98111°E / 41.03500; 28.98111
Date19 March 2016
~10:55 AM (UTC+2)
TargetCivilians
Attack type
Suicide bombing
Deaths5 (including the perpetrator)
Injured36
Perpetrators Islamic State

On 19 March 2016, a suicide bombing took place in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district in front of the district governor's office. The attack occurred at 10:55 (EET) at the intersection of Balo Street with İstiklal Avenue,[3] a central shopping street.[4] The attack caused at least five deaths,[5] including that of the perpetrator. 36 people were injured, including seven whose injuries were severe.[3][4] Among those injured were twelve foreign tourists.[4] Among those killed, two were of dual Israel-US nationality.[6] On March 22, the Turkish interior minister said that the bomber had links with ISIL.[7]

Background

The bombing was the fourth suicide bombing in Turkey in 2016,[8] and occurred six days after a bombing in Ankara that left 37 people dead. The United States embassy in Ankara had issued a terrorism warning to its citizens the day before the bombing for Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Adana. The German embassy had also issued a security warning to its citizens three days before the bombing. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had called the warnings "normal".[9] Germany had also closed its consulate on the avenue on Thursday and Friday as a security measure.[10]

According to BBC, residents of Istanbul had already been vigilant before the attack due to the recent explosion in Ankara and were wary of going out.[10] Following the bombing, according to Cumhuriyet, the Turkish government received heavy criticism on social media for defects in its security.[9]

Attack

The bombing took place on İstiklal Avenue, a shopping area popular with tourists and considered the busiest avenue in Turkey.[4][11] However, the bombing took place at a time when the avenue was relatively quiet.[5] The site of detonation was a few hundred metres away from a place where police buses are usually parked.[8] According to an eyewitness, the bomber detonated the bomb whilst passing by a group of tourists.[3] Hundreds of people reportedly ran away from the site of attack in panic after the explosion.[12] Nails and small pieces of metal were reportedly scattered in the area due to the attack.[13] Following the bombing, the avenue was closed off to the public.[11] According to a CNN Türk reporter on the scene, the suicide attacker was on his way to the actual target when the bomb went off in front of a restaurant.[14] Another account from a Turkish official (cited by Reuters) states the bomber was "deterred" from his or her actual target by the police and set off the bomb "out of fear". Initial findings pointed to Kurdish perpetrators. [15]

Victims

According to Hürriyet, two of the victims killed were American Israeli and one of the victim killed was Israeli and one was Iranian.[3] One of the victims that died in the explosion was a child. Two of the tourists injured were also children.[13]

Victims by nationality[16]
Nationality Deaths Wounded Total Ref.
 Turkey 0 24 25 [16]
 Israel 3 6 9 [3][16][17]
 USA 2 0 2 [17]
 Iran 1 1 2 [3][16]
 Ireland / Algeria 0 2 2 [16][18]
 Germany 0 1 1 [16]
 Ireland 0 1 1 [16]
 United Arab Emirates 0 1 1 [16]
Total 5[note 1] 36 41
  1. ^ Two victims hold a dual citizenship thus being counted twice in the per-country figure but only once in the totals.

Israeli authorities identified the three Israeli victims as Yonatan Suher (40 years old) from Tel Aviv, Simcha Dimri (60) from Dimona, and Avraham Goldman (69) from Ramat Hasharon.[17]

The Iranian fatalities were identified as Ali Razm khah (Dead) & Zhila Shariat, Azam Razmkhah and A 1-year-old, Diana Razmkhah, were injured.[19][20]

Perpetrator

While the authorities were quick to blame the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) given the Ankara bombing in February,[15] only upon further investigation in the afternoon, the Turkish authorities changed their initial assessment, now instead holding the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) accountable.[21] According to Milliyet, Turkish authorities never ruled out ISIL as suspects early on. According to the newspaper, the fact that the attack occurred near a group of tourists indeed suggested an ISIL involvement.[22] PKK umbrella organization KCK said it opposed targeting civilians and condemned attacks on them.[23]

The next day, Turkish authorities announced that Mehmet Öztürk was reliably identified by DNA tests to be the suicide bomber of the Istanbul attack. Born 1992 in Gaziantep Province and thought to be affiliated with ISIL,[1][2] he was one of two Turkish suspects the authorities were investigating. The day before, Sabah had named Özturk and 33 years old ISIL militant Savaş Yıldız from Adana,[24][25] who is also thought to be involved in the October 2015 Ankara bombings killing more than 100 civilians. In the night, authorities arrested Yıldız' parents.[21][26]

Reactions

Domestic

  • Following the attack, a meeting headed by Prime Minister Davutoğlu convened in Dolmabahçe Palace for "evaluation".[27] He vowed to continue fight against 'centers of terrorism'.[28]
  • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote a letter of condolences to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, saying he was “very sorry” to hear that three Israelis were killed and 10 wounded in the Istanbul attack.[29]
  • RTÜK, the Turkish board that regulates radios and TV channels, issued a ban on broadcasting images from the scene of attack.[30]
  • KCK announced that they are against the targeting of civilians, and condemned attacks that are carried out in this way.[31]
  • Selahattin Demirtaş, co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), condemned the attack and said "the government may have got used to such attacks, but we will not".[32]
  • Selin Sayek Böke, spokesperson of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said "today have died again" and "we will not get used to terror, terror will not be normalised".[33]
  • Some Turkish people expressed their gratitude to Germany for warning about the attack, which they claim may have prevented more deaths, and reacted by using the Twitter hashtag #DankeSchönDeutschland ("Thank you very much Germany" in German), which became trending in Turkey.[34] While Vasip Şahin, governor of Istanbul, claimed in response that the attack was not related to the warning given by the German consulate.[35]
  • Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş, in a statement criticised by Cumhuriyet as "scandalous", said that this was "a test in which, thanks to God, our citizens are performing very well".[36]
  • Turkish official İrem Aktaş was reportedly fired after tweeting that she wished death upon the Israeli tourists injured in the suicide bombing.[37][38]

International

  • Iran: Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Minister of Iran, condemned the bombing and called it "inhumane".[39]
  • Pakistan strongly condemned the suicide blast in Istanbul that killed five and injured many others. In a Foreign Office statement: “Pakistan condemns this terrorist act in the strongest terms and reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”.[40]
  • Bulgaria: A statement from Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov on the suicide attack reads: "We convey our most sincere condolences to the relatives of victims and wish a successful recovery to the injured individuals. Bulgaria shows solidarity with the efforts of the competent authorities in the Republic of Turkey aimed at soon finding those responsible for the attack"[41]
  • Colombia: The Government of Colombia, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released a statement condemning the attacks and stated that "Colombia manifests its solidarity with the people and Government of Turkey and expresses its condolences to the friends and family of the victims of this reproachable act."[42]
  • France: Jean-Marc Ayrault, France's Foreign Minister, condemned the bombing, saying "I strongly condemn this despicable and cowardly act that has caused the death of several people," while adding that Paris stood in solidarity with Turkey.[43]
  • Georgia: The Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili has condemned the terrorist attack. The Georgian leader believed the Turkish government together with the international society would stop this "terrible crime”.[44]
  • Greece: The Greek Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, releasing a statement saying, "Greece unequivocally condemns terrorism, whatever its source. We express our solidarity with the Turkish people and the deep condolences of the Greek people and the Greek government to the victims' families".[45]
  • Spain strongly condemned the "cruel attack" through an official statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conveyed "its deepest sympathies and condolences" to the families and friends of the victims, and wished those injured a speedy recovery. Spain also passed on its support for and solidarity with the Turkish authorities in its fight against terrorism, and trusted that the authors will be brought to justice.[46]
  • NATO: Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary General condemned the suicide bomb attack in Istanbul, and said the treaty will continue to support Turkey in its fight against terror.[47]
  • The United States condemned the terrorist attack through a statement released by John Kirby, spokesperson for the United States Department of State, "The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack today on Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and our hopes for a quick recovery for those wounded", the statement said.[48]
  • United Nations: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned bombing and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, consistent with human rights obligations.[49]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Istanbul Bomber Identified as Militant With Links to IS". New York Times. AP. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Istanbul bomber identified". Anadolu Agency. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "SON DAKİKA: İstanbul İstiklal Caddesi'nde patlama meydana geldi". Hürriyet. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d "İstiklal Caddesi'nde canlı bomba saldırısı; 5 kişi öldü, 3'ü ağır 36 yaralı var!". T24. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Istanbul explosion: At least five dead as tourist shopping area Istiklal Street hit by suicide bombing in Turkey". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Israeli authorities confirm two fatalities from Istanbul bombing were dual US-Israeli citizens". The Jerusalem Post. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  7. ^ "CRIME - Police identifies Istanbul bomber as ISIL member". Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  8. ^ a b "Five killed, 36 wounded in suicide bombing in central Istanbul". Reuters. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Herkes patlama olacağını biliyordu, önlenemedi". Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Istanbul shopping area hit by suicide bomber". BBC. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  11. ^ a b "İstiklal Caddesi'nde canlı bomba saldırısı: 5 ölü, 7'si ağır 36 yaralı". Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Istanbul bombing: At least five killed in Turkish city". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Taksim'de canlı bomba saldırısı!". Posta. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  14. ^ "LOCAL – Five killed, at least 20 injured in suicide attack in central Istanbul". Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  15. ^ a b "Initial findings show Kurdish militants behind Istanbul attack – Turkish official". Reuters. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h "Attack on Istiklal Avenue, 5 dead, 36 wounded". Sendika10. 19 March 2016.
  17. ^ a b c "Avraham Goldman, Yonatan Suher and Simcha Dimri named as Israeli victims killed in Istanbul blast". Jerusalem Post. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Istanbul bombing: Irish citizens injured in attack return home". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  19. ^ http://www.asriran.com/fa/news/458111/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B2%D8%AE%D9%85%DB%8C-%D9%88-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84
  20. ^ http://www.entekhab.ir/fa/news/259194/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B2%D8%AE%D9%85%DB%8C-%D9%88-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84
  21. ^ a b "Alleged Turkish terrorist suspected of previous attacks, Syrian connection". Yedioth Ahronoth. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  22. ^ "İstiklal Caddesi'nde canlı bomba saldırısı!". Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  23. ^ "Suicide bomber kills four, wounds 36 in Istanbul shopping district". Retrieved 19 March 2016. The Kurdish-rooted opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) condemned the bombing. The PKK's umbrella group said it opposed targeting civilians and condemned attacks on them.
  24. ^ "'Canlı bomba' şüphelileri için DNA örneği alındı". Sabah (in Turkish). 19 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  25. ^ "İddia doğruysa, İstiklal'deki canlı bombanın yeşil kartı bile var!". Cumhuriyet (in Turkish). 19 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  26. ^ "Suspected Istanbul bomber – A said ISIS terrorist known to Turkish authorities". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  27. ^ "Dolmabahçe'deki kritik toplantı sona erdi". Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  28. ^ "Turkey's Davutoglu vows to continue fight against 'centers of terrorism'". Reuters. 2016-03-19. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  29. ^ "Erdogan sends condolence letter to Rivlin with message of unity against terror". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  30. ^ "Board orders broadcast ban after Istanbul suicide blast". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  31. ^ "KCK condemns attacks targeting civilians". Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  32. ^ "Demirtaş'tan bombalı saldırı için açıklama: Alışmayacağız". Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  33. ^ "CHP'den İstiklal Caddesi'ndeki saldırıya ilk tepki". Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  34. ^ "İstiklal'deki patlama sonrası Twitter kullanıcıları: Teşekkürler Almanya". Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  35. ^ "Vali Şahin: Saldırının konsolosluk uyarısıyla ilgili yok". Hürriyet. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  36. ^ "Numan Kurtulmuş'tan skandal sözler: Milletimiz güzel bir sınav veriyor". Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  37. ^ "Turkish official fired after wishing death on Israelis hurt in bombing". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  38. ^ "Turkish Islamist party official fired for controversial anti-Israel tweet". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  39. ^ "Iran FM condemns 'inhumane' bomb blast in Turkey's Istanbul". PressTV. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  40. ^ "Pakistan condemns Turkey blasts". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  41. ^ "Bulgaria roundly condemns Istanbul suicide terror attack". FOCUS Information Agency. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  42. ^ "Colombia expresa su enérgica condena frente al atentado terrorista ocurrido en Ankara (Turquía)". cancilleria.gov.co. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  43. ^ "France says Istanbul attack 'despicable and cowardly'". Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  44. ^ "PM Kvirikashvili condemns Istanbul terror attack". agenda.ge. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  45. ^ "Greece condemns terrorist attack in Istanbul, voices solidarity with Turkish people". Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  46. ^ "Attacks in Istanbul". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Spain). Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  47. ^ "LOCAL - NATO in solidarity with Turkey after Istanbul attack". Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  48. ^ "International community condemns Istanbul terror attack on civilians". Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  49. ^ Section, United Nations News Service (2016-03-19). "UN News - UN chief condemns deadly Istanbul attack as 'appalling violence'". UN News Service Section. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=March_2016_Istanbul_bombing&oldid=711410288"