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2022 Istanbul bombing

Coordinates: 41°02′06″N 28°58′53″E / 41.03500°N 28.98139°E / 41.03500; 28.98139
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2022 Istanbul bombing
Part of terrorism in Turkey
İstiklal Avenue in 2019
2022 Istanbul bombing is located in Beyoğlu
2022 Istanbul bombing
2022 Istanbul bombing (Beyoğlu)
Date13 November 2022 (2022-11-13)
Time16:20 (TRT)
Coordinates41°02′06″N 28°58′53″E / 41.03500°N 28.98139°E / 41.03500; 28.98139
PerpetratorKurdistan Workers' Party (suspected; denied by PKK)[1][2]
Islamic State (ISIS) (not excluded by Turkish authorities)[3][4]
Turkey (suspected by the PKK)[5][6][7]
Deaths8
Non-fatal injuries81

On 13 November 2022 (2022-11-13), an explosion occurred on İstiklal Avenue in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey, at 4:20 pm local time.[8][9] According to the Governor of Istanbul, Ali Yerlikaya, the bombing left at least eight people dead and 81 injured. A woman named Ahlam Albashir code-named Hali Mohamed, who left a bag on the avenue, is the main suspect in the attack, according to Turkey. While no terrorist group has claimed responsibility, Turkish authorities suspect Kurdish separatists to be behind the attack.[10][11]

The city had already been targeted by terrorist attacks in 2015 and 2016 by the Islamic State (ISIS) and militants associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). An Islamic State suicide bombing in the same area killed four people in 2016.[12]

The next day, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu suspected the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) of being behind the attack and announced the arrest of the bomber and fourty-six others.[13] He claims that the attack was ordered from the Syrian-Kurdish town of Kobani.[14][1]

Meanwhile, the HSM of the PKK sent their condolences to the victims and announced that they did not commit the attack and that it was a Turkish staged act to justify an attack on Kobani.[15][16][17][18]

In light of this complicated situation, Turkish officials say that they still do not exclude the Islamic State (ISIS).[13][19][3]

Explosion

The explosion occurred on İstiklal Avenue in Beyoglu, the European part of Istanbul.[16] The Istiklal avenue is a popular tourist area and one of the main roads leading to Taksim Square.[20] The bomb went off in front of a shopping store, and the time of the blast, the area was more crowded than normally, as a football club was to play nearby.[21] According to Turkish newsportal OdaTV, the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device containing TNT.[22] The blast caused windows to break and images circulating on social media showed people bleeding.[23] Firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene to provide with a first assistance.[24] The police set up a perimeter around the scene around the bombing site and banned people from coming to İstiklal Avenue and the Taksim Square.[24]

Victims

Eight people were killed and at least 81 others were injured from the explosion.[14] The dead belonged to three families and included a 15-year-old and a child of 9 years of age.[14] According to reports from the Minister of the Agency, Derya Yanik, two of those killed were Yusuf Meydan, a member of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, and his three-year-old daughter Ecrin.[20] Of the eighty-one treated in hospital, thirty-nine were released the same day and five are being treated in intensive care.[25]

Investigation

Istanbul's Chief Public Prosecutors Office quickly opened an investigation after the attack, and at least eight prosecutors have been assigned to the case.[20] Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said a woman was filmed sitting on a bench for about 40 minutes and that she left shortly before the blast.[25] President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the attack; the initial reports by the governor of Istanbul were convinced it was a terrorist attack.[23]

The next day, Süleyman Soylu formally accused the PKK of being behind the attack and announced the arrest of the bomber and twenty-one others.[26] Soylu argued that the attack was carried by the PKK in retaliation for the Turkish invasion of north-eastern Syria and criticized the United States for its support of the Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG) in north-eastern Syria.[1][27]

On 14 November 2022, the main suspect in the attack, Ahlam Albashir, a Syrian national, was arrested by the Turkish police. She later confirmed her affiliation with PKK and YPG to the Turkish Police.[28] According to police, she admitted to have received training as a special intelligence officer by the Peoples Defense Units (YPG) and the PYD in Syria and entered Turkey through Afrin.[16]

Likewise Soylu also charged against the United States who he accused of supporting Kurdish groups in Syria.[14] He is used to this rhetoric, having also blamed the United States for an armed attack against a police station taking place in southern Turkey in September and saying, prior to that, that they funded the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) up to $2 billion since 2019.[29][30][27]

Jiyan Tosun, a lawyer and member of the Human Rights Association was accused of having planted the bomb on orders by the PKK by Adem Taskaya, a politician of the far right Victory party.[31] Following she was threatened repeatedly and preferred to stay at a courthouse instead of returning home.[31]

Aftermath

Around an hour after the explosion took place, a broadcast ban was issued by the Istanbul Criminal Court for all visual and audio news and social networking sites related to the incident.[32] Only interviews with government officials are allowed to be reported about.[25] CNN Türk and TRT then stopped reporting on the incident.[23] Internet speeds throughout Turkey and access to social media platforms such as Twitter have been significantly decreased since the event.[25]

Istanbul's anti-terrorist office decided to suspend the rights of defense of suspects but also of Internet users who have shared "negative information" about the attack on social networks.[33][34]

Reactions

Internal

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul, inspected the bombing site and Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the victims were being treated in the hospitals nearby.[24] Many political leaders expressed their condolences to the media, also setting forth that the event was a case of terrorism.[35][36] President Erdoğan released a statement, stating, "After the treacherous attack, our members of the police went to the scene, and our wounded were sent to the surrounding hospitals. Efforts to take over Turkey and the Turkish nation through terrorism will reach their goal neither today nor in the future, the same way they failed yesterday."[37]

The leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, said immediately after the attack : "We must unite against all forms of terrorism. We must raise a common voice against all forms of terrorism and we must condemn terrorism. No matter where the terror comes from, whatever its source, 85 million people living in this country must be saying the same thing. They must curse terrorism, those who commit it and those who support it. When we do this, we will have a unity of heart, it will be better for us to embrace each other."[38]

The chairwoman of the Good Party (İYİ) Meral Akşener condemned the attack, stating "I strongly condemn this vile attack. We would like those responsible to be caught as soon as possible".[39]

The Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) expressed its "deep sorrow and grief over the explosion that has killed six of our fellow citizens and injured 81 others", adding that "Our grief and sorrow is great. We wish God's mercy to the citizens who lost their lives".[39] The attack was also condemned by the imprisoned former chairman of the HDP Selahattin Demirtaş.[1]

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced that the premier league match in the Vodafone stadium between Beşiktaş and Antalyaspor was postponed due to the bombing.[40] Several football clubs offered their condolences.[40]

International

Many countries, including Azerbaijan, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Palestine, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Ukraine, the UAE, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uzbekistan condemned the attack and offered their condolences.[41][42] Condolences were also offered by international organizations such as the European Council,[43] NATO,[44] and OTS.[45]

See also

Other attacks in Beyoğlu district

References

  1. ^ a b c d Soylu, Ragip (14 November 2022). "Turkey blames deadly Istanbul blast on PKK, arrests 46 people". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  2. ^ "HSM denies involvement in Istanbul explosion, calls for its exposure". Firat News Agency. 14 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Istanbul bomber believed to have Kurdish links but Islamic State ties possible - senior official". Reuters. 14 November 2022.
  4. ^ "PKK saldırıyı üstlenmedi; Türk yetkili IŞİD'i dışlamadıklarını söyledi". Euronews. 14 November 2022.
  5. ^ "PKK dissociates itself from Istanbul bombing after Turkish government accusations". MSN.
  6. ^ "HSM denies involvement in Istanbul explosion, calls for its exposure". Firat News Agency.
  7. ^ "Kurdish militants deny Turkish claims they carried out Istanbul attack". The Guardian. 14 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Taksim İstiklal Caddesi'nde patlama: Ölü ve yaralılar var". Sözcü (in Turkish). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  9. ^ English, Duvar (13 November 2022). "Explosion hits Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue". duvaR (in Turkish). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Woman may be involved in Istanbul 'terror attack' that killed at least six - Turkey". The Independent. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Deadly explosion hits busy pedestrian street in Istanbul". The Independent. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  12. ^ Gauthier-Villars, David; Ceylan, Azra; Toksabay, Ece (13 November 2022). "Six dead in Istanbul blast, Erdogan says it 'smells like terrorism'". Reuters.
  13. ^ a b "Turkish police arrest 46 people over Istanbul blast". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d Güzel, Mehmet. "Turkey detains 1, suspects Kurdish militants behind bombing". ABC News. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  15. ^ "HSM denies involvement in Istanbul explosion, calls for its exposure". ANF News. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  16. ^ a b c Michaelson, Ruth (14 November 2022). "Kurdish militants deny Turkish claims they carried out Istanbul attack". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  17. ^ Spicer, Jonathan; Kucukgocmen, Ali; Toksabay, Ece (14 November 2022). "Turkey blames deadly bomb on Kurdish militants; PKK denies involvement". Reuters. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  18. ^ "PKK dissociates itself from Istanbul bombing after Turkish government accusations". MSN. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  19. ^ "PKK saldırıyı üstlenmedi; Türk yetkili IŞİD'i dışlamadıklarını söyledi". euronews (in Turkish). 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  20. ^ a b c Yan, Isil Sariyuce,Sophie Tanno,Holly (13 November 2022). "Istanbul blast that killed 6 and injured 81 is considered a terrorist attack, Turkish vice president says". CNN. Retrieved 13 November 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Hubbard, Ben (14 November 2022). "Deadly Bombing in Istanbul Is Being Investigated as a Terrorist Attack". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Emniyet, laboratuvar sonuçlarını paylaştı: Patlamada TNT kullanıldı" (in Turkish). Halk TV. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  23. ^ a b c "Istanbul: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spricht nach Explosion von »hinterhältigem Anschlag«". Der Spiegel (in German). 13 November 2022. ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  24. ^ a b c "Live updates: At least six killed, 81 injured in explosion on İstanbul's İstiklal Avenue". Bianet. 13 November 2022.
  25. ^ a b c d "Anschlag in Istanbul: Fahndung nach Verdächtiger läuft". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  26. ^ Singh, Anamica (14 November 2022). "Twenty-two, including bomber, detained for Istanbul blast that killed 6". WION. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Pentagon 2020 budget allocates $550 million for Kurdish forces in Syria". Ahval. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  28. ^ "Istanbul police says Syrian woman main suspect, detains 46 over bombing". Reuters. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ "Turkish Minister Says Deadly Gun Attack Was 'America-Based". VOA. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  30. ^ Sabah, Daily (19 August 2022). "No PKK terrorists will remain in rural Türkiye by 2023: Minister Soylu". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Lawyer accused of planting bomb in Taksim spends night at courthouse after harassment". Bianet. 14 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Turkey: Several killed and wounded after explosion hits Istanbul's busy Istiklal street". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Taksim'deki terör saldırısıyla ilgili savcılıktan görülmemiş talep" (in Turkish). Halk TV. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Taksim'deki patlamanın ardından mahkemeden dikkat çeken 'şüpheli' kararı". soL (in Turkish). 13 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  35. ^ "Taksim'deki patlamaya siyasilerden tepkiler". Evrensel.net. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  36. ^ "Taksim'deki patlamaya ilişkin siyasilerden taziye mesajı". Ensonhaber (in Turkish). Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  37. ^ "Son dakika... Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'dan İstiklal Caddesi'ndeki patlamaya ilişkin açıklama". Hürriyet Daily News (in Turkish). DHA. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  38. ^ "Kılıçdaroğlu'ndan patlamaya ilişkin açıklama: Her türlü teröre karşı ortak ses çıkarmak ve terörü lanetlemek zorundayız". T24 (in trk). Retrieved 13 November 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  39. ^ a b Stewart, Daniel (13 November 2022). "Turkish opposition deplores deaths in Istanbul blast". 360 News.
  40. ^ a b "Turkish Super Lig match postponed after Istanbul explosion". aa.com.tr. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  41. ^ "World leaders send condolences to Türkiye over Istiklal Street blast". TRT World. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  42. ^ "Int'l community sends condolences after Istanbul terrorist attack". Daily Sabah. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  43. ^ Charles Michel [@charlesmichel] (13 November 2022). "Horrific news from #Istanbul tonight. [...]" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 November 2022 – via Twitter.
  44. ^ Jens Stoltenberg [@jensstoltenberg] (13 November 2022). "Shocking images from #Istanbul. [...]" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 November 2022 – via Twitter.
  45. ^ "Message of OTS regarding the explosion in Istanbul today". Organization of Turkic States. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
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