2010 Istanbul bombing explained

2010 Istanbul bombing
Location:	Taksim Square, Istanbul, Turkey
Date:	31 October 2010
Time:	10:34
Timezone:	UTC+2
Type:	Suicide bombing
Fatalities:	1 (the perpetrator)
Injuries:	32^[1]
Perp:	Kurdistan Freedom Hawks^[2]

The 2010 Istanbul bomb blast was a suicide bombing that took place on Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey on 31 October 2010. The bomb resulted in at least 32 injuries, 15 of whom were police officers^{[1] [3]} and was claimed by a Kurdish secessionist group known as the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK).

Attack

The explosion occurred in Taksim Square on the European side of the city. The blast was reportedly a suicide bombing, targeting the riot officers and police vehicles typically stationed in the area.^[4] Multiple additional explosive devices were reportedly discovered at the scene of the incident after bomb squads examined the area.^[4]

Seventeen of the injured were civilians, while fifteen were police.^[1]

Responsibility

Initially, there were no official confirmations as to who carried out the attack, though many speculated that left-wing groups or the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were responsible. PKK never confirmed that they had organised the attack.^[5]

The day was significant as it was the day of final celebrations for Republic Day, marking the declaration of independence for the Turkish Republic, and Turkish President Abdullah Gül was due to arrive at a nearby location.^[6] The timing could also be significant since a unilateral ceasefire by the PKK declared two months earlier was due to expire on 31 October.^[6] The PKK, however, denied responsibility,^[7] with its spokesman, Roj Qandil, saying he had no "idea" about the bombing. The PKK also declared it was extending the unilateral ceasefire till the 2011 Turkish general election.^[8]

The TAK released a statement on their website claiming responsibility for the attack. The statement said that "We as TAK claim responsibility for the action carried out against the police force of Turkish fascism at Istanbul's Taksim Square on 31 Oct 2010." The PKK denied involvement in the attack.^[9]

Reactions

• Turkey – Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said "Those who threaten Turkey's peace, security and development will not be tolerated."^[1]
• Arab League – Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa condemned the attack and said that attack was "unacceptable".
• Human Rights Watch – HRW (Human Rights Watch) condemned the attack.
• Israel – Israeli embassy in Turkey condemned the attack and said "We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack that was carried out indiscriminately."
• Jordan – King of Jordan Abdullah II sent a message to then Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu and condemned the attack.^[10]
• Kurdistan Regional Government – The Kurdistan Regional Government condemned the attack in a statement saying "The Kurdistan Region Presidency strongly condemns the terrorist attack that was perpetrated in central Istanbul on Sunday, wounding a large number of civilians and policemen. We send our sympathies to the victims and their families."^[11]
• Kuwait – Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Salem Al-Sabah sent a message to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu denouncing the attack as a "terrorist crime."^[12]
• Russia – President of Russia Vladimir Putin condemned the attack.
• South Africa – President Jacob Zuma stated: "As the government and the people of South Africa, we reach out in thoughts and prayers to the government and peoples of Turkey and wishing those wounded a speedy recovery. Violence and any other form of terrorist attacks will not advance world peace and stability in any country."^[13]
• United States – United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the bombing, while also pledging to continue working with Turkey to "combat violent extremism. This is a shocking crime and the people of the United States stand in solidarity with our friends, the people of Turkey."^[3]

References

41.0369°N 28.9847°W

Notes and References

1. News: Istanbul suicide blast injures 32, including 15 police . BBC News Online . London . 31 October 2010. 1 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101101055420/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11660795. 1 November 2010 . live.
2. Web site: Kurdish TAK rebels say behind Istanbul bombing . Reuters . 11 April 2010 . 4 November 2010 .
3. News: 32 injured in apparent suicide bombing in Turkey . CNN . 1 November 2010 . 1 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101103030035/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/10/31/turkey.blast/index.html?hpt=T1. 3 November 2010 . live.
4. News: Suicide bomb attack on Istanbul's main square . The Guardian . London . 31 October 2010 . 31 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101103075115/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/31/suicide-bomber-turkey-istanbul. 3 November 2010 . live.
5. News: 22 hurt in Istanbul blast . The Straits Times . Singapore . 31 October 2010 . 31 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101102225006/http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_597580.html. 2 November 2010 . live.
6. News: Suicide blast hits Istanbul . Al Jazeera . 31 October 2010 . 31 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101031122135/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/10/2010103185656175601.html. 31 October 2010 . live.
7. Web site: Statement Says Istanbul Bombing Not Work of PKK. 11 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150212002019/http://www.techzone360.com//news/2010/11/01/5106702.htm. 12 February 2015. dead.
8. Web site: PKK denies role in Turkish blast. 11 February 2015.
9. Web site: Kurdish TAK rebels say behind Istanbul bombing . 11 Apr 2010 . 11 April 2010 . 4 November 2010 .
10. Web site: Taksim saldırısı dünyanın da gündeminde. 2020-10-23. CNN Türk. tr.
11. Web site: Kurdistan Region Presidency condemns terrorist attack in Istanbul . 11 February 2010 . krg.org . 11 February 2010 .
12. Web site: The Peninsula Qatar. 11 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20101102234838/http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/latest-news/131129-kuwait-condemns-istanbul-bombing-.html. 2 November 2010. dead.
13. Web site: South Africa: Zuma condemns Turkey terror attack. 7thSpace. 11 February 2015.