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Last update - 11:22 28/07/2008 Twin explosions in Istanbul kill 17 people and wound 154 others By The Associated Press and Reuters Tags: terror, Istanbul, Turkey ISTANBUL, Turkey - Two bombs exploded minutes apart in Istanbul, killing 17 and injuring around 154 others Sunday night in a square packed with people, officials said. Turkish broadcaster NTV said the toll reached 17 after one person died from wounds sustained in the Sunday evening blasts. The bombs were placed in trash cans and police were investigating who might be behind the blasts, Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler said. The explosions in the working class residential Gungoren district occurred about 10 minutes apart. Advertisement A statement from Istanbul governor's office said a total of 140 people were wounded. Of those wounded, 15 were in critical condition, a government official at the scene said. "There is no doubt that this is a terror attack," he said. Deputy Prime Minister Hayati Yazici said 15 of the injured were in critical condition. CNN-Turk television, citing security sources, said police believe Kurdish rebels may be responsible for the attack. It said intelligence reports had suggested that Kurdish rebels were planning a bombing campaign in Turkish cities. Kurdish, leftist and Islamist militants are active in Istanbul and have carried out bombings in the city in the past. But Yazici said authorities didn't yet know who was responsible. Broken glass, items of clothing, shop mannequins and other debris were strewn on the ground. Police sealed off the two separate locations at the square where the explosions occurred. The square is off limits to traffic and is an area where people congregate at nighttime. "The fact that there was a crowd in the area has increased the number of casualties," Guler said. Bomb squads in white overalls could be seen inspecting the scene. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan cancelled his weekly cabinet meeting to travel to Turkey's largest city to visit the site of the blasts, a government official said. On July 9, gunmen believed to be inspired by Al-Qaida opened fire on police guarding the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, killing three officers. Three attackers also died in a shootout with police. In Sunday's attack, many people were injured in the second blast after they rushed to the area to help people following the first explosion. "The first explosion was not very strong," said Huseyin Senturk, who owns a shoe shop in the area. "Several people came to see what was going on. That's when the second explosion occurred and it injured many onlookers." The second explosion could be heard a mile (around 2 kilometers) away, according to an Associated Press reporter who arrived to the scene shortly after the blasts. Nurettin Kapucu, a doctor at a nearby hospital, said some 25 people were being treated there. Three of them were in serious condition. Kurdish rebels belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, have been fighting for self-rule in southeastern Turkey since 1984. The violence has killed tens of thousands of people since then. Turkey has conducted frequent air raids on suspected rebel positions, in northern Iraq, including one early Sunday. Earlier this year, it launched a weeklong ground offensive. Although most of the fighting in concentrated in rural areas of southeastern Turkey, the rebels occasionally launch bombing campaigns in Turkish cities and tourist resorts Bookmark to del.icio.us   Internal fighting Human rights groups say torture is widespread in Palestinian lockups. Danger looms Pentagon chief Robert Gates warns: War with Iran would be 'disastrous.'   1.   turks vs. kurds 00:25  |  neddie 28/07/08   2.   To #1 Informing the ill-informed 01:12  |  Ibrahim 28/07/08   3.   Islamist-Jihadist Terrorism exploding again 01:35  |  Brod 28/07/08   4.   #2 sounds like al qaida work 02:01  |  boxley 28/07/08   5.   What kind of a world do we live in? 03:14  |  Batu 28/07/08   6.   It`s the occupation, peaceful Islamists had no other choice 03:38  |  judith 28/07/08   7.   Ibrahim - from istanbul 03:45  |  David Israel 28/07/08   8.   Ask where the Kurds are getting their arms from 06:36  |  Guy From NYC 28/07/08   9.   Any bomb anywhere 07:14  |  Jordan 28/07/08   10.   Muslims complain when their ox is gored 07:14  |  Ibn Musa 28/07/08   11.   @ Ibrahim - Have you considered 07:16  |  Ibn Musa 28/07/08   12.   To #8 07:17  |  Ibrahim 28/07/08   13.   Any bomb anywhere 07:22  |  Jordan 28/07/08   14.   twin explosions 07:56  |  rachel simson 28/07/08   15.   Why no NEWS in Haaretz on INDIAN terror? 10:15  |  Levi 28/07/08   16.   GUY from NY.TURKEY would know if the PKK was getting Israeli arms 10:50  |  PETER SM 28/07/08   17.   JORDAN GFuy from NY has tried it on.Lots of hate adjectives 10:52  |  PETER SM 28/07/08   18.   What a disgusting attack performed in the name of islam 10:53  |  Johnny 28/07/08   19.   to david from Israel 12:40  |  imtaba 28/07/08   20.   28 kg Semtex explosives missing in France.... 13:18  |  Benjamina 28/07/08   21.   Guy From NYC - Here are facts 15:27  |  David Isarel 28/07/08

Read & React Pentagon chief: War with Iran would be 'disastrous' Responses: 192 Israel agrees to move part of West Bank separation fence Responses: 116 Olmert: Living with 270,000 Arabs in Jerusalem means more terror Responses: 111 Syria envoy to U.S.: Israel has chance for peace with all Arabs Responses: 58 Rosner's Domain What American Jews believe (WTR) Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR) Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR) More Headlines 18:07 Olmert: Living with 270,000 Arabs in Jerusalem means more terror 20:44 Olmert accuses 'public figures' of attempting Syria talks outside official track 14:51 Israel agrees to raze part of West Bank separation fence 20:50 Rights groups say torture widespread in Palestinian jails 22:01 Innocent bystander killed in drive-by shooting in Bat Yam 18:14 Transport Min.: Israel `forgot` to invest in aviation safety 15:13 For first time, Hasidic sect approves limited internet use 21:19 Father of bulldozer terrorist decries life as stateless East Jerusalem Palestinian 14:00 Syria envoy to U.S.: Israel has chance for peace with all Arabs 22:06 Threatened with dismissal, Shas ministers decide against no-confidence vote 12:29 Israel fears European ship may sail to Gaza to 'break siege' 20:10 Body of IAF officer found in Laos river days after he went missing 14:22 Police chief denies cops leaked details of Olmert graft probe 15:34 Israeli woman killed in boating accident off the coast of Florida Previous Editions Select Day 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul

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