Islamic State is “probably” behind a suicide bomb attack that killed 10 people – mostly Germans – in Istanbul today, say security officials.
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At the same time, British Prime Minister David Cameron also expressed his condolences to President Erdogan of Turkey following the attacks while German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke on the phone with Davutoglu. Two senior security officials said it was very likely the group was responsible for Tuesday’s attack.
Turkish authorities have identified him as Nabil Fadli and said he was born in Saudi Arabia in 1988.
The arrests were made after an IS suicide bomber killed 11 people in central Istanbul yesterday, but the reports did not make clear if there was any connection.
At the Wednesday press conference Mr de Maizière said Germany, a member of the anti-Isis alliance, stood by Turkey in its battle against terrorism and would hold joint government consultations with Ankara in Berlin next week.
“International terrorism has once again shown its cruel and inhumane face”.
Germany has warned its citizens to avoid crowds outside tourist attractions in Istanbul.
Islamist, leftist and Kurdish fighters have carried out previous attacks in Turkey but many are blaming the so-called Islamic State for what is the first attack aimed at tourists in the city’s recent memory.
“We have determined that the perpetrator of the attack is a foreigner who is a member of Daesh”, he said.
It is understood that a Syrian national carried out the attack, in the Sultanahmet district, close the popular tourist site of the famous Blue Mosque.
Police also seized documents and CDs during a search of the premises where the suspects were staying, according to one news agency.
He said: “In the meantime I offer my sympathies to the victims and their families and everyone else affected by the attack”.
Police sealed off the scene, which is near an obelisk in the area that is on the site of the ancient Roman hippodrome.
An alleged ISIS suicide bombing has killed 10 people in Istanbul, with more injured.
Meanwhile, Turkey is also cracking down on the home-grown Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which is branded as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union as well.
Turkey stepped up its fight against Islamic State a year ago, after a period in which it was criticized for being slow to tackle the threat from the extremist group.
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Turkey has become a target for ISIL, with two bombings previous year blamed on the armed group, in the town of Suruc near the Syrian border and in the capital Ankara.
