Turkey declares national day of mourning after twin bomb attack
- 7 years ago
Turkey has declared a national day of mourning following Saturday’s twin bomb attack outside a football stadium in Istanbul.
At least 38 people were killed and more than 150 injured.
Earlier, as the first funerals for victims were held, the Turkish government said the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party, the PKK, may have orchestrated the attacks, while Turkey’s interior minister vowed vengeance for the strikes.
The explosions, triggered by a car and suicide bomb less than one minute apart, struck outside the stadium of Beşiktaş in the city. The attack came around two hours after Saturday’s match with Bursaspor.
The twin attack appeared to target police – 30 of the dead were police officers.
While there has been no immediate claim of responsibility, the explosions are just the latest in a spate of deadly bombings this year which have been blamed on either Kurdish militants or so called Islamic State.
Turkey is part of a US-led coalition fighting ISIL in Syria. It is also battling an insurgency by Kurdish militants in the southeast of the country.
At least 38 people were killed and more than 150 injured.
Earlier, as the first funerals for victims were held, the Turkish government said the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party, the PKK, may have orchestrated the attacks, while Turkey’s interior minister vowed vengeance for the strikes.
The explosions, triggered by a car and suicide bomb less than one minute apart, struck outside the stadium of Beşiktaş in the city. The attack came around two hours after Saturday’s match with Bursaspor.
The twin attack appeared to target police – 30 of the dead were police officers.
While there has been no immediate claim of responsibility, the explosions are just the latest in a spate of deadly bombings this year which have been blamed on either Kurdish militants or so called Islamic State.
Turkey is part of a US-led coalition fighting ISIL in Syria. It is also battling an insurgency by Kurdish militants in the southeast of the country.