| Explosion outside Justice & Development HQ in Istanbul |
| 02 Dec 2008 |
| A bomb exploded outside the headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development Party in downtown Istanbul at approximately 1500 local time (1300 UTC) on 1 December 2008. The blast occurred in the Sutluce district, located on the European side of the city, and injured six people. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, which damaged the windows of the building but caused no structural damage.
|
| Turkish Airline involved in attempted hijacking |
| 15 Oct 2008 |
| A Turkish Airlines Airbus A-320 aircraft was involved in an attempted hijacking while en route from Antalya Airport (LTAI/AYT) in Turkey to St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport (ULLI/LED) in Russia on 15 October 2008. At approximately 1000 UTC, while the aircraft was flying over Belarus, an assailant reportedly gave the flight attendant a note that claimed he was carrying a bomb and demanded to be taken to the cockpit, but passengers overpowered him when he began walking toward the cockpit door. The man, who was intoxicated at the time and allegedly unarmed, also reportedly demanded that the aircraft divert to his chosen destination. The aircraft was carrying 167 passengers, most of whom were Russian nationals. The assailant's nationality has not been confirmed; however, at least one report indicated that he was of Uzbek ethnicity. The aircraft later landed without incident in Russia.
|
| Suspect carrying explosives arrested in Istanbul |
| 13 Oct 2008 |
| Turkish authorities arrested a suspected Kurdish militant carrying explosives and detonators in the central Sisli district of Istanbul on 11 October 2008, preventing a probable suicide attack. The suspect -- a female posing as pregnant -- was in possession of approximately 19 lb/9 kg of explosives and several detonators. Turkish officials suspect the would-be bomber planned to carry out a suicide attack on the scale of the July 2008 bombings in Istanbul that killed 17 people. The arrested suspect is reportedly a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a terrorist organization that carries out frequent attacks in Turkey.
|
| Izmir car bomb injures police and soldiers |
| 21 Aug 2008 |
| On 21 August 2008 a car bomb exploded near two minibuses carrying police officers and soldiers in the western port city of Izmir. Authorities stated that eight police officers and three soldiers were injured in the attack and were being treated at local hospitals. A bomb hidden in vacant car that was parked on the side of a road reportedly caused the explosion. Officers have cordoned off the area, and investigators are searching for evidence. Officials believe that plastic explosives hidden in the car were triggered by remote control as the two minibuses passed nearby. No group has claimed responsibility and no arrests have been made in connection with the attack. |
| Suicide bomber killed & 12 injured in Mersin |
| 20 Aug 2008 |
| A suspected suicide bomber attempting to flee from police officers detonated explosives at a checkpoint outside of Mersin on 19 August 2008. The blast killed the bomber and injured 12 police officers. Turkish authorities were reportedly pursuing the vehicle based on information concerning an impending bomb attack in Mersin. There was no immediate confirmation on the identity of the bomber. Islamic militants motivated by al-Qaeda and separatists with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have both been blamed for carrying out recent attacks in Turkey.
|
| Several bomb explosions in central Istanbul |
| 07 Aug 2008 |
| Several explosions occurred in central Istanbul on 7 August 2008, injuring three people. Local sources reported that the blasts were caused by four mortars fired from a cemetery located near a military building in the Uskudar district. The building -- which houses an army garrison -- may have been the target of the attack. Authorities are currently searching for two suspects seen leaving the area on a motorcycle. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which remains under investigation.
|
| Bomb blasts kill 16 & many more are wounded |
| 28 Jul 2008 |
| At least 16 people have been killed and 154 wounded in two explosions in the Turkish city of Istanbul, in what officials say was a terrorist attack. The first blast occurred in a rubbish bin in the busy Gungoren residential area. The second, larger explosion occurred as crowds gathered. No group has claimed responsibility, but security services said the attack bore the hallmarks of Kurdish rebels.
Initial reports suggested it may have been a gas leak, but Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler later said he was "certain that this is a terror attack" aimed at causing maximum casualties. The blasts occurred about ten minutes apart around 2200 local time (1900 GMT) on a busy pedestrian street. The first explosion was caused by a small device placed in a rubbish bin in front of a bank. Afterwards, a crowd gathered in the area. Then a second bomb placed in another bin about 50m from the first exploded minutes later.
|
| Ban on smoking introduced |
| 10 Jul 2008 |
| There is now a smoking ban on all forms of public transport (trains, ferries and taxis) and in outdoor venues (including stadiums and playgrounds). Transitional arrangements are in place for cafes, bars and restaurants; they too will come under the smoking ban in July 2009. You risk being fined 62 YLT if you are caught smoking in a designated smoke-free area.
|
| 6 killed at checkpoint outside U.S consulate in Istanbul |
| 09 Jul 2008 |
| A group of armed men opened fire on police officers stationed at a checkpoint outside the U.S. Consulate in the Istinye district of Istanbul at approximately 1100 local time on 9 July 2008. At least three police officers were reportedly killed in the attack; three of the gunmen were also killed when police officers returned fire. Eyewitnesses stated that the armed assailants approached the consulate compound in a white van and then opened fire on a police checkpoint. Authorities have cordoned off the area, and security forces are seeking one of the assailants who is believed to have escaped after the attack. There has been no claim of responsibility so far, and it is not yet known whether the gunmen are affiliated with any militant group.
|
| 8 injured in Istanbul cafe bomb attack |
| 16 Jun 2008 |
| A percussion bomb exploded in a café near a gendarme paramilitary police station in the Buyukcekmece quarter of Istanbul on 15 June 2008, injuring at least eight people. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which damaged the café and surrounding buildings. Such incidents are not uncommon in Istanbul, where Kurdish, Islamist and left-wing radicals have staged attacks in the past.
|
