6 dead and 81 injured, all known about the attack in downtown Istanbul: A woman with an alleged headscarf
Periskopi
(4 years ago)
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Six people lost their lives and 81 others suffered injuries following an explosion near Istanbul's Taksim Square, an incident President Recep Tayip Erdogan has called a bomb attack “that appears to be terrorism”. On Sunday, ambulances mobilized toward the site of the event on the crowded street of Istiklal, which police have [...]
Six people lost their lives and 81 others suffered injuries following an explosion near Istanbul's Taksim Square, an incident President Recep Tayip Erdogan has called a bomb attack “that appears to be terrorism”.
On Sunday, ambulances mobilised toward the site of the event on the crowded street of Istiklal, which police had quickly surrounded. The area, in the Beyoglu neighbourhood of Turkey's largest city, was crowded with people as usual at weekends with buyers, tourists and families.
Speaking ahead of his departure at the Group 20 summit in Indonesia on Sunday, Erdogan said the blast was a “disloyal attack” and pledged that his authors would be punished.
Our “people can be sure that the culprits after the attack will be punished as they deserve”, he said at a press conference, adding that initial information suggested that “a woman played a role” in it.
“Would be wrong to say this is definitely a terrorist attack, but initial developments and initial intelligence from my governor is that the attack appears to be terrorism”, Erdogan said.
Four people died at the scene and two died in the hospital, Erdogan said.
As reported by Turkish authorities, of 81 persons injured, 39 have been released from the hospital. Of the 42 remaining, five are in intensive care. Two of the five in intensive care are in critical condition.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay officially announced that the blast was a bomb attack, and that it is considered a terrorist act due to the bombing by an attacker, considered to be a woman.
What is known and who is behind this explosion?
The medium Al Jazeera has reported that three people, one of whom is a woman and two men, are allegedly involved in the blast.
The suspect allegedly issued a bag of explosives in the middle of the street filled with civilians, and exploded a few minutes after she left.
According to Al Jazeera, officials believe she is a member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The two men allegedly involved in the attack, according to Al Jazeera, are said to be in 2000.
However, according to official statements by Turkish authorities at the moment is a woman suspect involved in the blast.
According to Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag, suspected of Sunday's attack in Istanbul, was sitting on the bench for 40 minutes, when the explosion followed.
Bozdag claimed the wife's identity suspected of the attack is unknown, but the data on her is being examined.
“All data are being investigated to locate authors and all agencies are looking for them”, he said.
This is considered a terrorist act. What terrorist organisation is in question will be determined by research”, the Turkish official has declared.
According to him, there are two possibilities for the attack, the “or the bag has a mechanism and it exploded itself, or someone blew it out from a distance”.
Numerous videos have been linked to Sunday's explosion in Istanbul, showing people fleeing panic, as well as heavy views of people on earth.
The images have also picked up the flare - up explosion.
Another video on social networks was that of the moment before the explosion, which gave the index for the backpack on the bench as the source for Sunday's explosion.
Turkish media report that the woman in the following image with the headscarf as well as camouflage pants may be suspected of the deadly explosion in Istanbul.
6 hours ago
