A Syrian suicide bomber detonated a bomb in a historic district of Istanbul popular with tourists on Tuesday morning (Tuesday night NZ Time), killing at least 10 people and wounding 15 others, Turkish officials said.
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At least eight Germans died in the blast between the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque tourist attractions in Istanbul’s cultural and historic heart, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, warning that figure may rise.
Several victims’ bodies lay on the ground in the Sultanahmet… “The terrorists are the enemies of all free people, indeed, the enemies of all humanity, whether in Syria or Turkey, in France or Germany”.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says the Islamic State group is behind the suicide attack in Istanbul that killed 10 people, mostly German visitors. The prosecutor’s office said that attack was carried out by a local IS cell. A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of government rules, said the explosion was believed to be “terror-linked”. ISIS has responded by singling out Turkey as a primary target, and a recent issue of its Dabiq magazine had a cover showing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan alongside U.S. President Barack Obama. Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus had previously said the perpetrator was born in 1988 and was a Syrian national, but the private Dogan news agency claimed the bomber was Saudi-born.
“This is not good for Turkey but everyone was expecting a terrorist attack”, he said. “But the embassy is continuing to verify with the Turkish authorities”, Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, said in a text message.
Mr Hammond said the Government knows tourists were “involved” in the explosion and promised to update MPs during Foreign Office questions if any news about United Kingdom nationals emerges. He did not provide further details. The official Twitter account of the British Ambassador to Turkey posted a tweet expressing “concern” at reports of the Sultanahmet explosion.
Davutoglu said Tuesday that Turkey is determined to battle the militant group until it no longer “remains a threat” to the country or the world.
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The tiresome thud of the blast was heard in districts of Istanbul several kilometres away, residents said.
