Kurdish militant group claims deadly Istanbul bombings
TAK, a splinter group of the PKK, says two of its operatives carried out the twin attacks that killed 38 people
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey — A Kurdish militant group on Sunday claimed responsibility for twin attacks that ripped through 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 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 militant group said the twin attacks were carried out by two TAK militants, 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, 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 revenge,” Interior Minister Suleman 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 wounded another 155 people.
“The findings point to the PKK,” he said.
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.
