ISTANBUL: Turkish government on Monday named suspect involved in yesterday’s deadly bombing at Istiklal Square in which at least 6 people lost lives and more than 80 injured.
Also read: Six dead in blast on busy central Istanbul avenue, cause unknown
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Saldırganın kimliği belirlendi!İstanbul Emniyeti: Saldırı emri PKK/PYD’den verildi pic.twitter.com/hnKYCoBWag
— A Haber (@ahaber) November 14, 2022
The suspect has been identified as Ahlam Albashir, acted on orders from PKK terrorist group’s base in Syria’s Kobani city. Officials said Ahlam Albashir admitted during interrogation that she entered Türkiye from Syria’s Afrin illegally.
Also read: Turkey claims detaining prime suspect involved in Istanbul blast
Turkish Interior Minister said Istanbul bomber would have fled Turkey to Greece today if she hadn’t been caught up. He also said police had an phone/audio tape that indicates PKK had ordered her killing to prevent her capture. the female suspect worked as an agent for the YPG, adding that they have arrested another person who has told the police that the YPG later ordered the death of the woman as well but it did not work. Ankara considers the YPG as the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said Türkiye will not accept the condolence by the United States over Sunday’s terror attack that claimed six lives in Istanbul’s Istiklal Avenue on Sunday. His remarks on Monday followed statements by Turkish officials hitting out at support to terrorist groups, including PKK/YPG, culprit in Sunday’s attack. Ankara in the past has accused United States of supplying weapons and training to the terrorist group in northern Syria.
