Suicide bomber wounds 32 in Istanbul

Khaleej Times

In Istanbul, the capitol of Turkey, a bomb was detonated in Taksim Square, the main square of the city, on Sunday. There is speculation as to if there were two suicide bombers or just one. The bomber approached an area where police buses were parked before detonating the bomb. The buses were parked near a monument of the founder of Turkey, a monument that also honors the country's independence. This location led to 15 out of the 32 injured to be police. Increased police presence in Taksim is common during and around national holidays, the most recent being Republic Day, which was celebrated on Friday.

Witnesses took video footage shortly after the attack of the injured, showing both civilians and police. It is a civilian account that two men approached the police that has brought about consideration that there may have been two bombers instead of merely one. Policing units such as Forensics and Bomb Disposal have been working on the closed off site, collecting fragments and looking into the possibility of two bombs. The one casualty appears to be the bomber.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility. Turkey is a relatively European country and is not a likely place to spawn Islamic militancy. In the past Turkey has been targeted by Al Qaeda, Kurdish separatist militants, and militants from Turkey's far-left. Turkish police have made many arrests of suspected Al Qaeda militants working in Afghanistan. A Kurdish militant group, Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), announced a ceasefire last month. The leftist militant organization, Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C), had 16 members arrested but there has been no confirmation if it was in connection to this bombing.