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Istanbul bombings 'suspects held' Istanbul bombings 'suspects held'
(40 minutes later)
A number of suspects have been arrested over the double bombings in Istanbul that killed 17 people last Sunday, Turkey's interior minister says. A number of people have been arrested over last Sunday's double bombings in Istanbul that killed 17 people, Turkey's interior minister says.
Besir Atalay blamed Kurdish separatist rebels for the blasts, and said most of those involved had been detained.Besir Atalay blamed Kurdish separatist rebels for the blasts, and said most of those involved had been detained.
Although he did not specify how many people had been arrested, a prosecutor said separately that eight suspects should be charged with PKK membership.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has denied any role in the attacks.
But security services say the blasts bore the hallmarks of the Kurdish rebels.
'No room for doubt'
"Our judgement is that this merciless attack was the work of the bloody separatist group," said Mr Atalay."Our judgement is that this merciless attack was the work of the bloody separatist group," said Mr Atalay.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has denied any role in the attacks, the bloodiest in Turkey since 2003.
Security services say the blasts bore the hallmarks of the separatist group.
"Those who helped, those who gave shelter and those who took part in the attack have been caught," said Mr Atalay."Those who helped, those who gave shelter and those who took part in the attack have been caught," said Mr Atalay.
He said 10 suspects had been questioned and handed over to the judicial authorities, AFP reported, adding that the investigation "left no room for doubt" over the perpetrators' identity. "I'm pleased to tell you that the entire plot is illuminated; a big part of the perpetrators were arrested in the light of strong evidence that doesn't leave any room for doubt."
PKK denial The unnamed prosecutor asked an Istanbul court to charge eight suspects arrested in connection with the bombings of belonging to the PKK, and release the remaining two, Turkey's semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier implied the PKK was to blame, saying the bombings were a "cost" of the government's military campaign against the rebels. The PKK is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and EU, as well as Turkey.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier implied the separatist group was to blame, saying the bombings were a "cost" of the government's military campaign against the rebels.
Children among dead
But PKK leader Zubeyir Aydar said his group was not linked to the attacks, suggesting they might have been carried out by "dark forces", in an apparent reference to ultra-nationalists.But PKK leader Zubeyir Aydar said his group was not linked to the attacks, suggesting they might have been carried out by "dark forces", in an apparent reference to ultra-nationalists.
Sunday's first bomb was planted in a rubbish bin in the residential area of Gungoren. Sunday's blasts occurred about 10 minutes apart on a busy pedestrian street in Gungoren. Five children were among the dead.
It caused crowds to gather before a second, larger device detonated.
The blasts occurred about 10 minutes apart - the first at around 2200 local time (1900 GMT) on a busy pedestrian street in Gungoren. Five children were among the dead.
They were the worst such attacks in Turkey since 2003, when al Qaeda carried out a series of bombings in Istanbul.They were the worst such attacks in Turkey since 2003, when al Qaeda carried out a series of bombings in Istanbul.
Some 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK - which is considered a terrorist organisation by the EU and the US, as well as Turkey - launched its campaign for self-rule in mainly Kurdish south-east Turkey in 1984. Some 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK launched its campaign for self-rule in mainly Kurdish south-east Turkey in 1984.