Terrorist in Turkiye - Who is it?

On November 13, 2022, an explosion on Istanbul's most-known commercial street killed 6 people and injured 81.

"Our people should be assured that the perpetrators of the incident on Istiklal Avenue will be punished as they deserve. The relevant units of our state continue to work to uncover the perpetrators of this treacherous attack and the groups behind it." - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye

The White House has issued a statement condemning the attack.

But who did it?

The Turkish police suspect a Syrian woman who goes by Ahlam Albashir. The woman reportedly admitted to being instructed by the PYD (Syria's Democratic Union Party), which is closely affiliated with the PKK (the Kurdistan Workers' Party), and who Turkiye has been battling for centuries.

According to TRTworld, the YPG may have been involved as well. The Turkish government officially claims that the PKK is a terrorist organization. However, it also says that they have close ties to the YPG, making the YPG also a terrorist organization under the Turkish government. Albashir has also been interrogated and claims that special agents trained her in the Ayn al-Arab region in northern Syria.

Turkiye has also said that they reject American condolences.

For further information, please read our article on Syria.

We await further news.