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| Europe |
| No group claims responsibility for latest Istanboom |
| 2004-03-11 |
| The suicide bombing attack against a Masonic Lodge in Istanbulâs Kartal district was a work of amateurs and not organised terrorists, according to Provincial Governor Muammer GÃŒler. Of the 14 home made bombs the two attackers were carrying when they entered the building only four exploded, GÃŒler said. Two people, including one of the attackers, were killed in the incident, and another six wounded. One of the attackers was captured though seriously wounded. GÃŒler said the attack could have been even worse that it was, with a number of plastic bottles containing petrol found at the scene. âOne of the terrorists tried to ignite one of the bottles but failed,â GÃŒler said. Authorities are still investigating the incident, though announced that both attackers were wearing flak jackets. âThe terrorists gave the impression of being members of a religious terrorist group,â GÃŒler said. This actually sounds a lot like what the Great Eastern Raidersâ Front used to do back in the 1980s. However, he denied having identified the dead terrorist involved in the suicide bombing, though the man captured was provisionally named as Abdullah slam. GÃŒler said that the attack on the restaurant section of the lodge first involved the terrorists spraying bullets around the room and then detonating hand made pipe bombs. When asked whether there was a possible link to the terrorist group al Qaeda, GÃŒler said that prosecutors from the State Security Court were investigating. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |