Istanbul: Suicide Bomber Had Connections with ISIS, Interior Minister Says
Following a suicide bombing in the busy street of central Istanbul on Saturday, Turkey's Interior Minister Efkan Ala said the perpetrator had connections with the Islamic State, sparking fear among citizens.
According to CNN, the bomber, identified by the minister as Mehmet Ozturk, was a Turkish citizen whose alleged connections with the ISIS are being further investigated by the authorities. "The evidence at hand shows that he [Ozturk] is connected to the Daesh terrorist organization. We are still considering with great sensitivity other connections or forces behind this," Ala said.
Daesh is another term for the Islamic State and is widely used by people in other countries when referring to the extremist group.
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Four people were killed, including two American-Israeli dual citizens, while 36 other people were injured in the attack, Turkish Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu confirmed.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the blast occurred at around 11 AM in a busy area where tourists, including foreigners, can be found. The suicide bomber picked an area outside the district governor's office on Istiklal Avenue and while families and friends of the fatalities mourn their loss, seven people reportedly remain in critical condition.
Since the blast was pulled off in an area where tourists are rampant, it is believed that the attack may have been targeting visitors. Officials reported that 24 foreign nationals were among the wounded, sparking fear among citizens and visitors around the area where European diplomatic missions and residences are also found.
Meanwhile, the United States is currently communicating with the Turkish government as it promises continued support to the threatened country. U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said the council will be working with Turkey in its battle against terrorism.
The attack came almost a week after a car exploded in the capital of Ankara. The explosion killed 37 people and the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), a Kurdish militant group, claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Due to the attacks, Turkish officials are on red alert all around the country, as five other unnamed people have been detained in relation to Saturday's bombing.
