New explosions in Istanbul!

[Ancyrean]

Just heard about yet three more bomb attacks in Istanbul!

According to CNN targets hit are: The HSBC HQ in Istanbul, someplace near the British Consulate and outside a popular mall! Death toll is so far 3, but the might increase as more details come in...

According to Turkish news sources I could check in a hurry, it's in fact 4 explosions,and there's a little bit confusion about the exact sites of the explosions as well as the number of people that lost their lives...I believe many more details will come in in a very short time

Just a few days after the synagogue bombings...I somehow can't help but believe it's some al-qaida associated scum...

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Reuters is saying 6 dead.

Targets look to be British: a British bank (HSBC) and the British consulate were both hit.

I'm suddenly a lot less enthusiastic about flying from Istanbul to London tomorrow.

[Ancyrean]

Death toll increased to 15, with 320 wounded!!...It's just been a short while after the attacks, and I'm afraid the numbers may not stop there

All this just around the time of Bush's visit to Britain...Did they do all this to sour the glory of a first state visit of a US president to the UK? Rufus, I'm sure the British police will be on top of things about security particularly these days but in any case, just try to stay away from where the demonstrations will take place in London Or was this the sort of effect the perpetrators of the attack in Istanbul wanted to create in the first place??

It's possible to read all sorts of things into the timing of the recent bombings in Istanbul, or connect them to other attacks elsewhere, but so short a time after this latest incident I can't help but try to make a connection

[Berzerker]

Nah, these attacks were probably being planned long before Bush's visit to London, although they may have rescheduled the attacks a bit to coincide with the visit.

[The Viceroy]

British Foreign Office advising against all but essential travel to Turkey.

I believe this to be an over reaction .. The Turkish people are friends and allies, and it sends the wrong signals out, that somehow going to Turkey is unsafe ..

[The diplomat]

25 dead, 390 wounded

[Winston]

Sounds relatively unsafe to me.

[The Viceroy]

Turkey is not unsafe ! the IRA blew up bombs in London, but did any other nation slap such caution to ALL of the UK ??

No.

I could understand Caution being expressed to visitors to Istanbul (to be wary), but to say the whole of turkey is unsafe is just not true.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by The Viceroy
Turkey is not unsafe ! the IRA blew up bombs in London, but did any other nation slap such caution to ALL of the UK ??

No.

I could understand Caution being expressed to visitors to Istanbul (to be wary), but to say the whole of turkey is unsafe is just not true.

I agree with your overall sentiment, but there is a difference in your analogy. When the IRA set off such bombs in Britian, they were targeting the British; whoever is doing this is clearly targetting foreigners. I've always felt safe in Turkey, but I've never been as circumspect about being a foreigner here as I am right now.

[lightblue]

It is is Istanbul they have issued a travel warning for, and to be honest after what, 7?, bombs in the last week, you can sort of see their point. If I was going on holiday there, I'd cancel my trip.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3222608.stm

Reports say British Consul-General Roger Short was among 14 people killed in the attack on the consulate, but the UK Foreign Office has not confirmed this.

[Bereta_Eder]

Firstly my condolences to the Turkish victims.

Then, IMHO those attacks seem indeed to have as targets "foreign interests".

I've visited the City once and there was no danger. I took a walk to roads, bazaars etc and thoroughly enjoyed it. The people were very friendly.

[C0ckney]

paki, don't troll this you bell end.

[Bereta_Eder]

How am I trolling you ******?

[C0ckney]

don't 'play' dumb

[Bereta_Eder]

You are clueless.