Bombing In Istanbul: Police Search For Leads After Attack On Police Bus Kills 11 People, 4 Suspects Detained
The police are searching for leads after a bombing in Turkey’s capital city Istanbul targeting a police bus killed 11 people on Tuesday morning. The explosion, which occurred on a busy street in Istanbul’s popular Beyazit district, is the latest in a series of terrorist attacks in Turkey this year that have affected the country’s tourism industry.
According to Andalou News Agency, investigators have revealed that a rental car was used in the attack in Istanbul. The car, laden with explosives, was parked on Sehzadebasi Street, Istanbul. The bomb is believed to have been triggered remotely as a bus reportedly transporting riot police officers drove by. Investigators are reviewing surveillance videos to find out who drove the car to the area before the bombing in Istanbul.
The governor of Istanbul, Vasip Sahin, has revealed that seven of the casualties of the Istanbul bombing were police officers. The other four were civilians, according to CNN. Up to 36 other people were injured in the heavy bombing in Istanbul, which affected nearby buildings.
Turkish officials and world leaders have condemned the Istanbul bombing. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to continue to support the fight against terrorism after visiting some of the injured victims of the bombing in Istanbul, Andalou reported. He also decried the fact that Turkey’s security officers are being targeted by terrorists.
“The mission of our soldiers, our police, and our city guards is to protect our lives and our property. It is unacceptable that these people are targeted. We will continue our fight against terrorism fearlessly,” he said.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon called for justice for the victims of the Istanbul bombing in a statement released by his spokesman.
“The Secretary-General hopes that the perpetrators of this despicable terrorist attack will be swiftly identified and brought to justice. He extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes those injured a speedy recovery. The United Nation stands in solidarity with the people and Government of Turkey at this difficult time.”
No organization has claimed responsibility for this bombing in Istanbul, and Turkish authorities have not revealed any information about the four suspects taken into custody.
The Islamic State (ISIS) and Kurdish militants have claimed to be behind some of the previous bombings in Istanbul and around Turkey this year. The Turkish government’s frayed relationship with Kurdish militants and its support for the U.S.-led air strikes on ISIS have made big Turkish cities such as Istanbul a target for terrorists, according to CNN.
This is the fourth major bombing in Istanbul this year. In January, a suicide bombing in the Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul left about 10 people dead and dozens wounded. In March, another bombing in Istanbul’s Istiklal Caddesi left up to five people dead. Both places are popular destinations for tourists.
Besides Istanbul, there have also been bombings in other big cities in Turkey, such as Ankara. These attacks have sparked concern among the tourists over their safety in the country. In April, the U.S. Embassy in Turkey cautioned U.S. citizens in the country that there are “credible threats” to popular tourist sites in Istanbul and Antalya, according to the Independent. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has also warned about the threat of attacks in tourist locations in Istanbul and other cities.
As a result of these concerns, the number of tourists visiting Turkey is apparently declining. Turkey’s tourism ministry revealed last month that the number of tourists who visited the country in April was 28 percent less than in 2015, DW reported. According to the ministry, Istanbul welcomed the largest number of foreigners than any city in Turkey with border gates in April.
The bombing in Istanbul on Tuesday occurred near the popular Beyazit Square, which is not very far from Istanbul University’s main campus, the Vezneciler metro station, and the 13th century Sehzade Mosque.
[Photo by IHA/AP]
