A female suicide bomber wounded eight people in the city of Bursa, Turkey, on Wednesday. Authorities have detained 15 people with possible connections to the explosion.
“The investigation into the identity of the suicide bomber is ongoing. We are almost certain on the terror group that she has relations with, but I won’t reveal it until it’s certain,” explained Interior Minister Efkan Ala. “We won’t share the details yet. Turkey is engaged in a serious struggle with terrorism and alliances of terrorists.”
The bombing became “the fifth bombing in a major urban centre this year.” Bursa sits in northern Turkey.
“This was an attack aimed at our nation, our people, our peace. Eight of our citizens were wounded. Thank God, no citizen was critically wounded,” declared Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. “This attack will not give cause for Turkey to retreat in its determined stance in fighting terrorism.”
No group has taken responsibility for the attack.
Officials have not identified the woman. They could not use her fingerprints, which means they will rely on her DNA to identify her. Turkish media reported the woman arrived in Bursa on April 24. She purchased a ticket under the fake name “Sultan.” When she arrived, she stayed with people officials detained on Thursday.
Turkish authorities arrested six alleged Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) suspects only four days ago for a plan to bomb Konya, located in central Turkey. None are citizens of Turkey.
Earlier this month, the U.S. embassy in Turkey confirmed “credible threats” against popular tourist spots in Istanbul and Antalya. Israel also advised its citizens to leave Turkey “as soon as possible.”
“The US Mission in Turkey would like to inform US citizens that there are credible threats to tourist areas, in particular to public squares and docks in Istanbul and Antalya,” the embassy stated on their website.
The BBC listed the most recent attacks:
31 March: attack on a bus stop in mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir killed seven
19 March: a suicide bomber killed three Israelis and one Iranian in a shopping area in Istanbul
13 March: 35 people killed by Kurdish militants in Ankara
February: 28 killed in military convoy in Ankara
January: 12 German tourists died in a suspected IS suicide bombing in Istanbul; seven killed in a suicide attack on a police HQ in Diyarbakir
October 2015: More than 100 people are killed in a double suicide bombing at a Kurdish peace rally in Ankara
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