29 killed, 166 wounded twin bombings in Istanbul: Interior Minister [Update#6]

[Abdullah719]

A car bomb outside a football stadium in central Istanbul wounded at least 20 people, including a number of police officers, hours after the end of a match between two of Turkey’s top teams, interior minister Süleyman Soylu has said.

Armed police sealed off streets around the Vodafone Arena, home to the Beşiktaş football team, a Reuters witness said. TV footage showed what appeared to be the wreckage of a burned-out car and two separate fires on the road outside the stadium.

Soylu, speaking in parliament during a budget hearing, said about 20 people had been wounded and that initial indications were that the blast was caused by a car bomb targeting a riot police bus.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...l-football-stadium-causes-multiple-casualties

 

[The_KING]

This is sad news. It's sad to see Turkey became a target of these animals.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

This is sad news. It's sad to see Turkey became a target of these animals.

Might be a result of the Kurdish unrest since the Syrian crisis.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Sad News.

Prayers for the injured people. Hope they recover completely.

 

[Saeed]

It's either ISIS or PKK. Probably the work of PKK, they target Police and Military usually.

 

[Abdullah719]

A total of 29 people were killed and another 166 were wounded on Dec. 10 when two bombings hit central Istanbul near Beşiktaş's Vodafone Arena Stadium, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has announced.

Speaking at a press conference early on Dec. 11, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş detailed the bombings saying that the first attack was staged by the detonation of a bomb-laden car in which he said directly targeted riot police near the stadium.

The second attack came 45 seconds after the first one when a suicide bomber blew self up at Maçka Park just across the stadium, Kurtulmuş said.

The interior minister later announced that 27 police officers and two civilians were killed while 166 people were wounded in the twin bombings.

He also added that some 10 suspects were detained after the attack.

The blast occurred at around 10:20 p.m., around 90 minutes after a match between Beşiktaş and Bursaspor ended at the nearby ground.

Upon his arrival from Ankara, Soylu had initially said there were two separate explosions, one of which is being evaluated as a suicide bomb attack in Maçka Park just across the stadium.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım had stated early on Dec. 11 that there were both casualties and injuries in the bomb attacks.

Earlier, Soylu had said there were around 20 injuries in the attack.

Following the attack, Bursaspor stated on its official Twitter account that there were no injuries among its supporters.

Beşiktaş also condemned the attack in a statement issued on its website, in addition to the Turkish Football Federation, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor all condemning the attack.

A number of ambulances were immediately dispatched to the scene as eyewitnesses reported the sound of gunfire after the explosions.

The huge blast was also heard on both sides of the Bosphorus.

Meanwhile, security forces later detonated a suspicious car near the scene in a controlled explosion early on Dec. 11, Doğan News Agency reported.

The premier was immediately briefed about the attack by Soylu and Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin.

Presidential sources also said President Erdoğan was at the Tarabya Palace by the Bosphorus in Istanbul and he was also briefed by the officials.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s media watchdog, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), announced a gag order on reporting the attack.

A total of six prosecutors were assigned to investigate the attack.

In addition, the U.S. Embassy also condemned the attack, showing solidarity with the country against terror.

"We condemn tonight's cowardly attack, and salute the courage of the Turkish people as we stand with them against terror," the Embassy tweeted.

The U.S. Consulate in Istanbul also stated that it was monitoring the attack, urging its citizens to avoid the area.

"Please avoid the area, monitor local press reporting, and let friends and family know you are OK," the consulate said in a tweet.

The attack also drew condemnation from EU officials.

"Following news from #Istanbul, in contact with authorities. All our solidarity to all citizens of #Turkey," High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini tweeted.

"Strongly condemn attack in #Istanbul! Violence has no place in a democratic society. @EUDelegationTur," Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannnes Hahn tweeted.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/at...dium.aspx?PageID=238&NID=107142&NewsCatID=341

 

[Saeed]

PKK's affiliate TAK claimed responsibility for the attack.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/istanbul-armed-group-tak-claims-deadly-attack-161211132135392.html

 

[chacha kashmiri]

This is what happen when wars are fought on your borders

 

[shortbread]

Erdogan is being arrogant in fighting so many wars at the same time, Kurds, Iran, Shias, US, Opposition parties, EU......he needs to stop being arrogant and come to his senses. At the rate at which the Turkish economy, lira, housing market are falling he's not just making things worse for himself but Turkey as well.

- He started with the notion that ISIS was a good dea and anything that unseats Assad requires his support, till they decided to turn up at his door step!

- He then started by picking on the Kurds when all they wanted to do was help their brethren being killed by ISIS. He created another enemy when there wasn't one.

- Decided to mess with one of his biggest trading partner and shot down a Russian jet. Erdogan thought he made EU and the US happy. What he really did was mess with Putin. In less than a month Putin crashed the Turkish turist industry and stopped Russian tourists from going there. Erdogan now tail between his legs apologised more than once to Putin. Russia now strongly backs Assad, Erdogan issues statements but will not mess with the Russians.

- Was on the EU good books till they opposed to him playing dictator. He still throws toys out of the pram because he knows EU will not mess with the Refugee deal. EU membership will not happen in Erdogan's lifetime But at this rate one wont be surprised if EU decides to sanction Turkey.

Turkey was one country to be proud of in the Islamic world. Now they are slowly heading to the sh!t storm!

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

To be fair, I don't think anybody predicted that Russia would be allowed to flex it's muscles in the region virtually unopposed by NATO. Looks like Pakistan and Turkey are realigning themselves closer to Russia since they have demonstrated their military commitment to enforcing their interests in the east.

 

[Saeed]

To be fair, I don't think anybody predicted that Russia would be allowed to flex it's muscles in the region virtually unopposed by NATO. Looks like Pakistan and Turkey are realigning themselves closer to Russia since they have demonstrated their military commitment to enforcing their interests in the east.

Not really Putin just suffered his first loss yesterday. They lost Palmyra to Baghdadi's group in matter of 3 days. I would say huge blow to Putin/Assad's propoganda about fighting ISIS. They lost the only city they took from them. Now you just have to wait for General James Mattis to become Defense secretary. He is not a huge fan of Iran and friends.