Kurdish militant suicide bombing in Istanbul, Turkey
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).[4]
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.[5] Multiple additional explosive devices were reportedly discovered at the scene of the incident after bomb squads examined the area.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7] The timing could also be significant since a unilateral ceasefire by the PKK declared two months earlier was due to expire on 31 October.[7] The PKK, however, denied responsibility,[8] 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.[9]
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.[4]
