Two Blasts in Turkey, Terrorists Held Accountable

Asuicide bomber has been held responsible for a blast in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul city center on January 12. During the explosion, ten people were killed and fifteen injured, most of whom were foreign tourists. The next night a car bomb was targeted at police headquarters near Diyarbakir, south-eastern Turkey, killing six people and injuring at least 39.

According to Turkish authorities, the individual guilty of the Istanbul bombing was a man of Syrian origin born in 1988. The bomber was linked with the Islamic State (IS). Later, three Russian nationals were detained, also suspected of links with IS. In total, Turkish authorities arrested 60 suspects for the terrorist attack after the explosion in Istanbul.

“We have determined that the perpetrator of the attack is a foreigner who is a member of Daesh,” declared Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, using the Arabic acronym for IS. “Turkey won’t backtrack in its struggle against Daesh by even one step … This terror organization, the assailants and all of their connections will be found and they will receive the punishments they deserve,” he said.

Turkish authorities reported that the majority of the victims were German nationals. Peru’s foreign ministry said one Peruvian man was killed and a Peruvian woman was among the 15 people who were wounded.

The Russian authorities have also confirmed that the Russian detainees are among those associated with terrorists. “There is information that all three detainees have relationships or participate in foreign terrorist groups. Moreover, one of them had been previously announced in the Russian and international Wanted List. The other two left Russia a few years ago with the intended purpose of studying on the territory of Middle Eastern states,” reported Tass Agency, referring to a source in the Russian competent authorities.

While the Istanbul blast investigation was ongoing, the second blast hit south-eastern Turkey on Wednesday night. The BBC, referring to local media, reported that a car bomb blast had hit a police headquarters in Cinar district, Diyarbakir province. The blast also damaged nearby residential buildings, where a mother and baby were killed. Turkish officials blamed the blast on Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) militants.

At time of going to press, there is no information that any organization has claimed responsibility for the blasts.

Eka Karsaulidze