stanbul had already been hit by two deadly bombings in and March 2016, both of which had been claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Turkey as a whole was on a high security alert due to repeated bombings, with two other attacks in Ankara in February and March that killed dozens having been claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), described as a "radical splinter group of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)".[5]
The attack targeted Çevik Kuvvet police forces that were changing guard in front of the Faculty of Sciences and Literature of Istanbul University. The attack occurred on the Şehzadebaşı Avenue, in front of a hotel between the Vezneciler bus station and a police station.[6][1] The site was also close to the Beyazıt Square,
a major tourist attraction. The bombing occurred at the morning rush
hour, though the hotel had been mostly empty due to the decline in
tourism in Turkey.[7] The bomb was reportedly remotely detonated.[7]
An eyewitness reported that a car that he or she could clearly see
exploded, but whether the bomb-laden car was moving or was parked at the
time of the explosion was reportedly subject to investigation.[6]
The force of the bombing overturned the police bus, damaged other nearby vehicles and heavily damaged the entrance of the hotel.[5] A dorm that was close by to the site of the explosion was affected by the bombing, with the fragments of the bomb shattering the windows to enter the students' rooms.[8] Damage and shattered windows were reported over a wide area, including at the 16th-century Şehzade Mosque.[6]
No organization immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing. Initial assessments by Mete Yarar, a security analyst, stated that three organizations active in Turkey, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), ISIL or Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C) could all be responsible for the blast. Cevat Öneş, former Assistant Undersecretary of the National Intelligence Organization, stated that there was a high probability that the PKK was responsible for the attack, though the chances of the perpetrator being ISIL should not be disregarded.[6]
Selahattin Demirtaş, co-leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party, called for all party leaders to have a summit to find a solution to the bloodshed and to resign if they failed.[12]
John R. Bass, Ambassador of the United States to Turkey, tweeted that he was saddened by the attack and that the US continued to stand with Turkey "in the fight against terrorism."[13] The European Union also reiterated its "solidarity with" and "support for" Turkey in a statement.[14]
"İstanbul Vezneciler'de polise bombalı araçla saldırı" (in Turkish). NTV. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
"Istanbul: 'Deadly blast' hits police bus in Vezneciler". Retrieved 6 June 2016.
Guzel, Mehmet (7 June 2016). "Turkish official says bomb in Istanbul kills 11" (7 June 2016). Associated Press. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
"İstanbul Vezneciler'de polis aracına bombalı saldırı, 7'si polis, 11 kişi hayatını kaybetti" (in Turkish). T24. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
"Istanbul blast: 11 dead in bomb attack on police vehicle". The Guardian. 7 June 2016.
"Son dakika haberi: İstanbul'daki patlamayı görgü tanığı anlattı!". Hürriyet. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
"Istanbul bomb attack on police bus kills 11". BBC. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
"İstanbul'da bombalı saldırı: 7'si polis 11 ölü, 36 yaralı" (in Turkish). Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
"Erdoğan saldırının ardından hastanede konuştu: Terör örgütünün polis – sivil ayrımı bizi bağlamaz" (in Turkish). T24. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
"Yıldırım: Ramazanın ilk günlerinde masum vatandaşlarımızı öldüren terör örgütü insanlığın düşmanıdır". T24. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
"Car Bomb Attack Targeting Police Kills 11 People in Istanbul". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
"Demirtaş'tan dörtlü toplantı çağrısı". Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
"Istanbul police bus attack leaves 11 dead". ITV. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
Bombing
The Şehzade Mosque is very close to the site of the bombing and its windows were shattered by the force of the blast.
The force of the bombing overturned the police bus, damaged other nearby vehicles and heavily damaged the entrance of the hotel.[5] A dorm that was close by to the site of the explosion was affected by the bombing, with the fragments of the bomb shattering the windows to enter the students' rooms.[8] Damage and shattered windows were reported over a wide area, including at the 16th-century Şehzade Mosque.[6]
No organization immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing. Initial assessments by Mete Yarar, a security analyst, stated that three organizations active in Turkey, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), ISIL or Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C) could all be responsible for the blast. Cevat Öneş, former Assistant Undersecretary of the National Intelligence Organization, stated that there was a high probability that the PKK was responsible for the attack, though the chances of the perpetrator being ISIL should not be disregarded.[6]
Reactions
Following the bombing, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan went to the Haseki hospital, where the injured people were being treated. He made a statement there saying "these cannot be pardoned or forgiven. We shall continue our fight against terrorists tirelessly until the end." He also said that the distinction the terrorist organizations made between civilians, soldiers or police were of no interest to the state, and that it was in the end humans that were killed.[9][5] Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım released a statement saying that "the terrorist organizations who aimed to kill our innocent citizens in the first days of the holy Ramadan again have showed that they are the enemy of humanity."[10] Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also condemned the attack and drew attention to the fact that it took place on the second day of Ramadan, saying "they are cold-heartedly exploding bombs on a Ramadan day."[11]Selahattin Demirtaş, co-leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party, called for all party leaders to have a summit to find a solution to the bloodshed and to resign if they failed.[12]
John R. Bass, Ambassador of the United States to Turkey, tweeted that he was saddened by the attack and that the US continued to stand with Turkey "in the fight against terrorism."[13] The European Union also reiterated its "solidarity with" and "support for" Turkey in a statement.[14]
Aftermath
Following the bombing, the avenue was closed to traffic and the Vezneciler metro station was closed.[1] The public was evacuated from the area. Another blast was heard after the evacuation of the area, this was due to a controlled explosion conducted by the security forces.[8] Eyewitnesses also heard gunfire after the explosion, which was because of police officers firing in the air to restore order.[1] Around 4 hours after the bombing, a ban on broadcasts regarding the bombing was put in place. All examinations at Istanbul University were cancelled.[4]References
- "The Latest: EU stands by Turkey after deadly car bomb". Daily Mail. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
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