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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Istanbul bombings 'suspects held' | Istanbul bombings 'suspects held' |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| A number of people have been arrested over last Sunday's double bombings in Istanbul that killed 17 people, 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. | 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. | 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. | But security services say the blasts bore the hallmarks of the Kurdish rebels. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'No room for doubt' | 'No room for doubt' |
| Speaking next to a display of weapons, computer hard drives and other items collected from the homes of the suspects, Mr Atalay cited "strong evidence" against them. | Speaking next to a display of weapons, computer hard drives and other items collected from the homes of the suspects, Mr Atalay cited "strong evidence" against them. |
| A big part of the perpetrators were arrested in the light of strong evidence that doesn't leave any room for doubt Besir AtalayTurkish interior minister | A big part of the perpetrators were arrested in the light of strong evidence that doesn't leave any room for doubt Besir AtalayTurkish interior minister |
| "Our judgement is that this merciless attack was the work of the bloody separatist group," he said. | "Our judgement is that this merciless attack was the work of the bloody separatist group," he said. |
| "Those who helped, those who gave shelter and those who took part in the attack have been caught." | "Those who helped, those who gave shelter and those who took part in the attack have been caught." |
| "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." | "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." |
| The PKK is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and EU, as well as Turkey. | The PKK is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and EU, as well as Turkey. |
| Children among dead | Children among dead |
| Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier implied the separatist group was to blame for the bombings, saying they were a "cost" of the government's military campaign against the rebels. | Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier implied the separatist group was to blame for the bombings, saying they were a "cost" of the government's military campaign against the rebels. |
| 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 blasts occurred about 10 minutes apart on a busy pedestrian street in Gungoren. Five children were among the dead. | Sunday's blasts occurred about 10 minutes apart 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 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. |
| Turkey's military has staged regular bombing raids into northern Iraq in recent weeks, bombing areas of the mountains where the PKK has bases. | Turkey's military has staged regular bombing raids into northern Iraq in recent weeks, bombing areas of the mountains where the PKK has bases. |