2008 Istanbul bombings
The 2008 Istanbul bombings occurred on July 27, 2008 when two explosions hit a busy shopping street in the Güngören district of Istanbul, killing seventeen people, five of them children,[1] and injuring 154.[2] The attacks occurred at 9:45 p.m. local time, 18:45 UTC,[3] on a pedestrian street closed to traffic.[4] The bombings were the deadliest civilian attacks in Turkey since the 2003 Istanbul bombings, five years earlier.[5]
| 2008 Istanbul bombings | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location |  Güngören, Istanbul, Turkey |
| Date | July 27, 2008 18:45 (UTC) |
Attack type | Bombings |
| Deaths | 17[1] |
| Injured | 154 |
Details
The first of the two bombs was a sonic bomb which was placed in a telephone cabin and second bomb was placed in a waste container 50 meters away, near a crowded street.[1] The first bomb caused crowds to gather for help and curiosity, and around 10 minutes later, the second and more powerful bomb exploded, causing many of the casualties.[6] The police believe that the bombs were activated remotely.[2] Political analyst Damla Aras said that, "there is a possibility they might be A4, C-4 explosives, which were brought from northern Iraq by the PKK and have been used several times in Turkey."[7]
Early on, news sources thought the first explosion was caused by a gas leak.[7]
Investigation
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the bombing as of yet, although Kurdish separatist militants are suspected.[6] The Istanbul Police indicate that the incident bears the hallmarks of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), possibly in revenge for a series of major operations by the Turkish military on its bases days prior to the incident.[2] However a senior member of the PKK, Zubeyir Aydar, denied the implication: "The Kurdish liberation movement is not involved in this attack."[1]
Based on a tip from residents, three teenagers were taken into custody in connection to the bombings.[8]
Nine people were indicted in December 2008 over the bombings.[9]
References
- "Istanbul bomb attacks kill 17". AFP. 2008-07-07. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- "Deadly blasts hit Istanbul street". BBC. 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- "Double bombing kills 17, injures more than 150 in Turkey's Istanbul". Hurriyet. 2008-07-27. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- "Istanbul blasts kill 17 and injure more than 150". The Age. 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- "Turkey Blames Kurdish Rebels For Istanbul Blasts That Killed 17". Wall Street Journal. 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- Arsu, Sebnem (2008-07-28). "Bombs Kill 15 in a Crowded Istanbul Neighborhood". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- "Deadly bombings hit Istanbul". Al Jazeera. 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- "3 teenagers detained for Istanbul attack". NDTV. 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- "Prosecutors say PKK responsible for Turkey's twin bomb attack". Hurriyet. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
