Monday, March 21, 2016

Turkey: Istanbul Suicide Bomber Was IS Member; Focused His Bombing on Israelis,Killed 3 of Them

A Turkish member of the Islamic State (IS) militant group was responsible for the March 19 suicide bombing in Istanbul that killed three Israelis and an Iranian, the Reuters website reports today (March 21, 2016).

The attack on Istiklal Street -- Istanbul's most popular shopping district -- is the fourth such bombing in Turkey this year and the second one by Islamist militants.

Turkey is on heightened alert after the bombings, which have killed more than 80 people. A soccer game was canceled in Istanbul yesterday and the stadium was evacuated in what appeared to be a security threat.

Interior Minister Efkan Ala identified the March 21 suicide bomber as Mehmet Ozturk from a southern Turkish province, adding that five people had been detained so far in connection with the blast. Israel has confirmed that three of its citizens died in the blast, and that the suicide bomber was specifically focusing his attack on Israelis.

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