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Istanbul terror attack – a blow on Turkey’s tourism

Türkiye Materials 12 January 2016 20:06 (UTC +04:00)
The Jan. 12 terrorist attack in Istanbul is mainly directed against Turkey’s tourism
Istanbul terror attack – a blow on Turkey’s tourism

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12

By Orkhan Guluzadeh - Trend:

The Jan. 12 terrorist attack in Istanbul is mainly directed against Turkey's tourism, said Sanlı Bahadir Koc, a research consultant at 21st Century Turkish Institute, who has an expertise in security issues.

According to preliminary reports, the terrorist attack in the city killed 10 and injured 15.

"It isn't a coincidence that the terrorist attack was carried out at Sultanahmet Square, which is visited by foreign tourists more often than any other sightseeing place in Istanbul," Koc told Trend Jan. 12.

"It is too early to say what group stands behind the terrorist attack in Istanbul, either PKK or the IS," he said.

Koc also speculated that special services of some countries could also be responsible for the attack in Istanbul, but didn't elaborate which countries could stand behind it.

He also didn't rule out the possibility that the terrorist attacks, which have been recently increasing in Turkey, can cause panic among the population.

The explosion at Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul on Jan. 12 killed 10 and injured 15 people.

It was reported that a suicide bomber blew himself up near the central mosque when tourists were passing by.

Earlier, reports suggested that as many as 450 Turkish citizens joined the terrorist group "Islamic State" (aka IS, ISIS or ISIL) in Syria in 2015.

It was also reported that according to Turkey's intelligence service, 100 people from those who joined the IS in Syria learned how to make bombs.

Turkey's intelligence service also has information that the citizens of the country, who underwent a training with the IS militants, intend to return to Turkey to prepare terrorist attacks there.

Earlier, two suicide bombers, who planned terrorist attacks during the New Year celebrations, were arrested in Ankara, late December 2015.

On Oct. 10, 2015, some 97 people were killed and over 240 people were injured as a result of a terrorist attack in Ankara. The IS carried out that terrorist attack, said Turkey's National Intelligence Organization.

Previously, the National Intelligence Organization warned of the possibility of other terrorist attacks in the country.

"Some 20 more suicide bombers are preparing to carry out terrorist attacks in different cities in Turkey," said the National Intelligence Organization.

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