The attack targeted the tourism unit of the Istanbul Police Department, which is located near several touristic landmarks, including the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern.
A policeman has been killed in a suicide attack by an English-speaking woman in central Istanbul, a week after another attack on Istanbul police by a far-left group.
A niqab-clad female suicide bomber targeted the building of the tourism police near
Sultanahmet Square, one of the most popular touristic places in Istanbul, just before 6 p.m. on Jan. 6, NTV television reported. The assailant "exploded herself prematurely before going into the police building, as she was prevented by the guards at the entrance," Cihan news agency reported.
Istanbul Gov. Vasıf Şahin said the suicide bomber presented herself as a tourist, telling the police in English that she had forgotten her wallet inside while attempting to enter the building moments before the attack. "One policeman is seriously wounded. The other policeman is better," he added, while answering journalists' questions at the scene.
Kenan Kumaş, one of the injured policemen, died in hospital.
The bomber has been identified as Elif Sultan Kalsen, a reported member of the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C). Social media sites close to the group hailed her operation, noting that had previously been subjected to torture after being detained for engaging in political activity.
While the body of the unidentified attacker was recovered and injured people were hospitalized, police stopped the tram service as the area was cordoned off as a security measure.
Doğan News Agency footage shows the moments after the attack near the square:
Three suspicious packages were also detonated by a bomb squad.
A far-left militant who served jail term for being a member of the DHKP/C was detained in front of Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, which also houses a prime ministerial office, after throwing a bomb that failed to explode at police officers on Jan. 1.
January/06/2015
Armed assailant detained near Turkish PM’s office in Istanbul