PKK 'likely' involved in Istanbul terror attack

By Ayse Humeyra Atilgan

ISTANBUL

The PKK terror group is "most likely" to have been involved in Saturday's deadly attack Istanbul, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus has said Sunday.

On Saturday evening, two explosions rocked Istanbul's European side -- a car bomb followed by a suicide bomb -- leaving 29 people martyred, including 27 police officers, and 155 others wounded -- 19 in critical condition -- Istanbul Governor's Office announced early Sunday.

"Signs point to PKK," Kurtulmus said. "Once more, we are sincerely calling on the world to stop exploiting [terrorist organizations] now that we are all fighting against terrorism," he told a private TV channel.

"The target was the police officers," Kurtulmus said, recalling that a car bomb was detonated outside a football stadium in Istanbul's Besiktas district two hours after a Turkish football league match between Besiktas and Bursaspor.

The fans of the two teams had left the stadium when the attack occurred, he said, adding only the police officers were around for security reasons.

An explosive weighing around 300 kilograms was used in the bomb attack according to bomb experts, Kurtulmus indicated.

The second attack, which came less than minute later was caused by suicide bomber and occurred in Macka Park in the same neighborhood. He blew himself up after police noticed him, according to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu .

Kurtulmus called on "the friends of Turkey" to be in solidarity with the country against the latest terrorist attack, which he said was "also aimed at destroying Turkish economy and tourism".