Istanbul explosions kill 27 and target British Consulate and HSBC Bank
Turkey, Local, 11/21/2003

Two booby trapped trucks yesterday targeted the British Consulate and offices of the HSBC bank in Istanbul, which led to the killing of 27 persons, including the British consul and many persons were reported wounded.

These are the worst two attacks of their kind in the history of Turkey. They created a state of fear in the city which was bewildered by the size of the two explosions, without knowing the motives behind the explosions and their executors. These two attacks come five days after two similar attacks against two Jewish synagogues in the same city.

The two new attacks which took place 10 minutes apart, coincided with the visit of the US President George W. Bush to Britain. The reports indicated that the attack at the consulate was a suicide operation while that on the bank is not known whether it is a suicide attack or not.

Istanbul witnessed a shock similar to that of new York following September 11 attacks, while the wounded were coming out of the ruins, running in the streets and the bodies were thrown in the streets, torn and burnt.

Very quickly accusations were made against al-Qaida organization. An accusation perpetuated after the Turkish news agency Anadul said that an unidentified person telephoned it and claimed responsibility for the attack in the name of "al-Qaida organization and the Islamic front for the greater Orient Knights ( al-Jabha al-Islameyah Le Fursan al-Mashreq al-Akbar)" which targeted British interests in Istanbul. The unidentified caller said "the two attacks are a joint work for the Islamic front for the great Orient Knights and al-Qaida.. we will continue our attacks against the Mason's objectives. Muslims are not alone."

The speaker also repeated his message once again before he hung up the line, according to the Turkish news agency. A spokesman for the same front, which calls for the foundation of a Federal Islamic state in Turkey, claimed the front's responsibility for the two attacks which targeted last Saturday the two Jewish synagogues in Istanbul. The Turkish security forces doubted the ability of the front to carry out such attacks.

One of the two explosions destroyed part of the British consulate in the historical Biooglo quarters while the second explosion targeted the headquarters of the British bank which is composed of 19 floors in Lefinet quarters for business. Both are in the western part of the city. The Turkish minister of the interior said that the two explosions are most expectedly carried out by "two suiciders who were driving two booby trapped trucks." He added the two explosions might be a "second wave" of aggressions linked to the two blowing up operations against the two synagogues.

The British foreign office secretary Jack Straw said that the two attacks bear "the prints of international terrorism" carried out by al-Qaida organization and partner organizations.

Rev. Eyan Sheerwood, the attache in the British consulate, said that the general British consul Roger Short was killed in the Consulate operation as well as the British diplomat Liza Helloworth. A British diplomat said that Short had his office at a building close to the main gate of the consulate because of the construction and maintenance work at the main building.

A spokesman for the British foreign office said that ( 14 employees) of the British and Turkish nationality working the British consulate might be among the 27 killed persons. An employee in the Consulate said "I thought it is an earthquake." Khakan Kozan said he saw a white truck running speedily towards the explosion site near the consulate just 10 seconds before the explosions and then the "huge explosion took place."

While the HSBC bank closed all branches in Turkey, the US closed before the public its consulate in Istanbul and called on its citizens to avoid the building. The American consulate called on its citizens in turkey to avoid western trade centers, clubs and worshipping sites until more information are learnt about the two attacks. Football competition were cancelled, including one for one Israeli team that was due to be organized shortly. Warnings were issued against travel to Turkey from several European countries.

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