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Bombing at Wedding in Turkey More Than 50 Bombing at Wedding in Turkey Kills More Than 50
(about 1 hour later)
ISTANBUL — The wedding had ended and the guests had started walking home when a suspected suicide bombing tore through the site of the ceremony in southeastern Turkey late Saturday, killing more than 50 people and wounding scores more, in the latest in a string of attacks to strike the restive region in the past week. ISTANBUL — The wedding had ended and the guests had started walking home when a suspected suicide bombing tore through the site of the ceremony in southeastern Turkey late Saturday, killing more than 50 people and wounding scores more, the latest in a string of attacks in the restive region in the past week.
The deadly attack in the city of Gaziantep was carried out by a suicide bomber between the ages of 12 and 14, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul on Sunday, citing police sources. He said that 51 people were killed in the attack and 69 people were receiving treatment in hospital, with 17 people in critical condition. The deadly attack in Gaziantep was carried out by a suicide bomber between the ages of 12 and 14, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul on Sunday, citing police sources. He said 51 people had been killed in the attack and 69 people were receiving treatment in the hospital, with 17 people in critical condition.
Mr. Erdogan earlier issued a statement saying that the Islamic State militant group was probably behind the attack on Saturday and that its aim was to sow divisions among ethnic groups in the country and “spread incitement along ethnic and religious lines.” Mr. Erdogan also issued a statement earlier saying that the Islamic State was probably behind the attack and that its aim was to sow divisions among ethnic groups in the country and to “spread incitement along ethnic and religious lines.”
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. There was no claim of responsibility immediately after the attack.
More than 200 people had packed into a narrow street in the district of Sahinbey, close to the Syrian border, for the Kurdish street wedding when the explosion occurred around 11 p.m., witnesses said. More than 200 people had packed onto a narrow street in the district of Sahinbey, close to the Syrian border, for the Kurdish wedding when the explosion occurred around 11 p.m., witnesses said.
“We had just walked past the wedding and offered our good wishes when we heard the blast,” said Ibrahim Ates, a local man. “Suddenly people started running past us. When we went back to see what had happened, everyone was on the floor, and there were body parts scattered everywhere and blood splattered on the walls.” “We had just walked past the wedding and offered our good wishes when we heard the blast,” said Ibrahim Ates, who lives in the area. “Suddenly people started running past us. When we went back to see what had happened, everyone was on the floor, and there were body parts scattered everywhere and blood splattered on the walls.”
Mahmut Togrul, a lawmaker with the Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party who visited the scene of the attack on Sunday, said the wedding had been a traditional Kurdish ceremony and had taken place in a predominantly Kurdish neighborhood.Mahmut Togrul, a lawmaker with the Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party who visited the scene of the attack on Sunday, said the wedding had been a traditional Kurdish ceremony and had taken place in a predominantly Kurdish neighborhood.
“Besna and Nurettin Akdogan, the bride and groom, survived the attack and are in stable condition,” Mr. Togrul said. “Many of the victims that died were children,” he added.“Besna and Nurettin Akdogan, the bride and groom, survived the attack and are in stable condition,” Mr. Togrul said. “Many of the victims that died were children,” he added.
The attack came nearly two months after militants suspected of being affiliated with the Islamic State stormed Istanbul’s main airport with guns and bombs, killing at least 44 people. Turkey has been rocked by a wave of urban terrorist attacks in the past year as it confronts threats from multiple fronts, including the Islamic State, which recently lost ground in northern Syria, and Kurdish insurgents, who have resumed a war with the Turkish state in the southeast and were blamed by the authorities for four bombings in the past week. The attack came nearly two months after militants suspected of being affiliated with the Islamic State stormed Istanbul’s main airport with guns and bombs, killing at least 44 people.
Turkey is also reeling from a failed coup last month that aimed to topple the government of Mr. Erdogan and left at least 240 people dead. Mr. Erdogan said on Saturday that there was no difference between the various terrorist organizations that are attacking the country. Turkey has been rocked by a wave of urban terrorist attacks in the past year as it confronts multiple threats, including the Islamic State, which recently lost ground in northern Syria, and Kurdish insurgents, who have resumed a war with the Turkish state in the southeast and were blamed by the authorities for four bombings in the past week.
Televised footage showed scenes of chaos in the aftermath of the blast at the wedding. Crowds gathered, shouting “God is the greatest” as forensic teams moved onto the site. Ambulances could be seen rushing to the scene and leaving with bodies covered in white sheets. On Sunday, police found parts of a suicide vest in the area where the blast took place, the Gaziantep chief prosecutor’s office said in a statement. Turkey is also reeling from a failed coup last month that aimed to topple the government of Mr. Erdogan and that left at least 240 people dead. Mr. Erdogan said on Saturday that there was no difference among the various terrorist organizations attacking the country.
“Everyone here is devastated. We can’t even carry out the funerals because the bodies are in pieces. They are struggling to identify the victims,” said Hilmi Karaca, a Kurdish activist who witnessed the explosion. Televised footage showed scenes of chaos in the aftermath of the blast at the wedding. Crowds gathered, shouting “God is the greatest” as forensic teams arrived at the site. Ambulances were seen rushing to the street and leaving with bodies covered in white sheets. On Sunday, police found parts of a suicide vest in the area where the blast took place, the Gaziantep chief prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
“Everyone here is devastated,” said Hilmi Karaca, a Kurdish activist who witnessed the explosion. “We can’t even carry out the funerals because the bodies are in pieces. They are struggling to identify the victims.”
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim condemned the attack and vowed to continue to fight terrorist groups. “No matter what this treacherous terror organization is called, we as the people, the state and the government will pursue our determined struggle against it,” he said.Prime Minister Binali Yildirim condemned the attack and vowed to continue to fight terrorist groups. “No matter what this treacherous terror organization is called, we as the people, the state and the government will pursue our determined struggle against it,” he said.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Yildirim had told reporters that Turkey would take a more active role in addressing the conflict in Syria over the next six months and was willing to accept a role for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria during a transitional period. But he insisted that Mr. Assad would have no place in Syria’s future. Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Yildirim told reporters that Turkey would take a more active role in addressing the conflict in Syria over the next six months and was willing to accept a role for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a transitional period. But he insisted that Mr. Assad would have no place in Syria’s future.
“In this area, we live in a ring of fire,” said Mr. Karaca, the activist. “We live in a place where mothers are weeping for their dead children just hours after crying tears of joy at a wedding.”“In this area, we live in a ring of fire,” said Mr. Karaca, the activist. “We live in a place where mothers are weeping for their dead children just hours after crying tears of joy at a wedding.”