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The Grand Turk
Kurdish militant group claims deadly Istanbul bombings
2016-12-12
Follow-up
[IsraelTimes] TAK, a splinter group of the PKK, says two of its operatives carried out the twin attacks that killed 38 people

A Kurdish murderous Moslem group on Sunday grabbed credit for twin attacks that destroyed the heart of Istanbul, killing 38 people, mostly police.

The claim was made in a statement issued by the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), seen as an splinter group of the better-known Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

"A Dire Revenge squad from TAK carried out simultaneous attacks outside Istanbul Vodafone Arena stadium and Macka park at around 2230 local time (1930 GMT)," according to a TAK statement published on its website.

The murderous Moslem group said the twin attacks were carried out by two TAK murderous Moslems, without providing any details about the perpetrators.

Turkish government officials had earlier pointed the finger of blame at the PKK, which has waged a bloody campaign against the Turkish state since 1984.

The carnage prompted a sharp response from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him...
, who vowed Ankara would "fight the scourge of terrorism right to the end."

"They should know that they will not get away with it... They will pay a heavier price," the president said.

In a ceremony for five of the victims at the city’s police headquarters, officers carried in the coffins draped with flags as Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim looked on before speaking with the bereaved families.

"Sooner or later we will have our Dire Revenge," Interior Minister SLearned Elders of Islamn Soylu told the mourners. "The arm of the law is long."

People also gathered outside the stadium to lay flowers, many holding Turkish flags and shouting "Down with the PKK!" and "Our homeland is indivisible!"

Thousands later joined a protest march around the stadium, with some ruling party fans kicking the buses of opposition CHP supporters, prompting police to disperse the crowds.

Soylu said 30 police, seven civilians and one person yet to be identified had died in the blasts which had also maimed another 155 people.

Thirteen people have been detained over the blasts.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the attack had targeted police.

"Experts say at least 300-400 kilograms of explosives had been used. There was a pit where the car detonated," he said on CNN Turk television.

3 held for social media posts on Turkey bomb

[IsraelTime] The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s office says three people have been detained for social media posts regarding Saturday night’s attack in Istanbul that killed 38 people.

In addition to 13 suspects detained as part of the investigation into the twin bombings, the prosecutor’s office said it is investigating any "news, comment or shares on press and social media platforms that attempted to praise terrorism or terrorist organizations, serve terrorist organizations’ propaganda, legitimize terrorism or target those who combat terrorism."

The statement notes that three suspects have been detained for this so far and authorities were working to apprehend others.

Death toll rises to 39 in twin bombings in Istanbul

[Hurriyet] The death toll in the deadly Istanbul bomb attacks rose to 39 with the death of another civilian, DoÄŸan News Agency reported early on Dec. 12.

Selin Çelik, who was wounded inside a bus on Dec. 10 in the twin bombings near Beşiktaş’s Vodafone Arena stadium, succumbed to her injuries in intensive care, the agency said.
Posted by:trailing wife

#1  The claim is rather too convenient, I think.

Just what Erdogan needs to target the Kurds and distract attention from his support for jihadis.
Posted by: phil_b   2016-12-12 01:24  

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