This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/erdogan-official-tweets-she-hopes-israeli-tourists-are-dead-in-istanbul-terror-attack-a6942546.html
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Turkish official 'tweets she hopes Israeli tourists are dead' in Istanbul terror attack | |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A Turkish official has reportedly been sacked over a tweet in which she appears to have wished almost a dozen Israeli tourists wounded in a bomb attack in Istanbul “were dead”. | A Turkish official has reportedly been sacked over a tweet in which she appears to have wished almost a dozen Israeli tourists wounded in a bomb attack in Istanbul “were dead”. |
The attack on Saturday saw five people killed, including the bomber himself, three Israelis and an Iranian, while 11 other Israeli nationals were among 36 injured in total. | The attack on Saturday saw five people killed, including the bomber himself, three Israelis and an Iranian, while 11 other Israeli nationals were among 36 injured in total. |
Shortly after details emerged of the victims of the attack, a tweet was posted by the account of Irem Aktas, a board member in the women’s branch of the ruling AK Party for the Istanbul district of Eyup, which read: “I wish that the wounded Israeli tourists were dead.” | Shortly after details emerged of the victims of the attack, a tweet was posted by the account of Irem Aktas, a board member in the women’s branch of the ruling AK Party for the Istanbul district of Eyup, which read: “I wish that the wounded Israeli tourists were dead.” |
The tweet sparked outrage among both Turks and Israelis on social media, and appears to have prompted an angry personal intervention from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. | The tweet sparked outrage among both Turks and Israelis on social media, and appears to have prompted an angry personal intervention from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. |
According to the Jerusalem Post, Mr Netanyahu had ordered his foreign ministry to demand an official condemnation and apology from the Turkish government. | According to the Jerusalem Post, Mr Netanyahu had ordered his foreign ministry to demand an official condemnation and apology from the Turkish government. |
Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon told the Post if it was legitimate, the tweet was a “shocking and ugly statement”. | Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon told the Post if it was legitimate, the tweet was a “shocking and ugly statement”. |
Ms Aktas’s account appears to have been deleted in the wake of the post, and according to the Times of Israel she has since been fired from the AK Party. | Ms Aktas’s account appears to have been deleted in the wake of the post, and according to the Times of Israel she has since been fired from the AK Party. |
On Sunday, Turkey’s interior minister confirmed reports the bomber had been identified as Turkish-born Isis militant Mehmet Ozturk, who had no previous criminal record and was born in 1992 in Gaziantep province, which borders Syria. | On Sunday, Turkey’s interior minister confirmed reports the bomber had been identified as Turkish-born Isis militant Mehmet Ozturk, who had no previous criminal record and was born in 1992 in Gaziantep province, which borders Syria. |
The attack targeted Istanbul's pedestrian Istiklal Street, which is linked with shops and cafes in an area that also has government offices and foreign missions. | The attack targeted Istanbul's pedestrian Istiklal Street, which is linked with shops and cafes in an area that also has government offices and foreign missions. |
It was not immediately clear if the Israelis were specifically targeted, the Associated Press reported. The Israelis' bodies and other Israelis wounded in the blast were being evacuated while a senior Israeli foreign ministry official to arrive in Istanbul for meetings with Turkish officials. | It was not immediately clear if the Israelis were specifically targeted, the Associated Press reported. The Israelis' bodies and other Israelis wounded in the blast were being evacuated while a senior Israeli foreign ministry official to arrive in Istanbul for meetings with Turkish officials. |
Previous version
1
Next version