Istanbul bomb attack could have repercussions in international arena
Turkey lashes out at ‘insincerity’ of US condolences for an attack targeting a crowded street after claiming that the Syrian ‘branch’ of the PKK ordered it.
ISTANBUL — The calm of a sunny afternoon on the most popular pedestrian thoroughfare in Turkey’s commercial and tourism capital was shattered by a blast on Sunday, while tensions rise at the diplomatic level due to those believed responsible for the killings.
Multiple bodies were lying on the ground after the explosion. The toll later announced by the government was six dead including two children, one of them a 3-year-old girl. Over 80 people were injured, some seriously so.
CCTV footage appeared to show that the blast was caused by a bag filled with explosive material and left on a bench. A woman had reportedly sat on the bench for over 40 minutes and then left shortly before it blew up.
Police immediately began cordoning off the surrounding area as ambulance sirens squealed and a low-flying helicopter looped overhead, as witnessed by Al-Monitor on the ground near and on the street.
