‘Likely IS bomber’ kills at least 50 at Turkey wedding
The city of Gaziantep has become a hub for Syrians fleeing the civil war in their country – and there have long been fears it has a significant jihadist presence
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group was the “likely perpetrator” of a bomb attack on a wedding in the city of Gaziantep near the Syrian border that left at least 50 dead and dozens more wounded.
The explosion - which officials said could have been triggered by a suicide bomber - was the latest attack to have rocked the key Nato member in a horrific year that has seen strikes blamed on Kurdish and Islamist militants as well as a bloody July 15 botched coup.
Gaziantep governor Ali Yerlikaya said that 50 people had been killed and 94 wounded in “an abhorrent terror bomb attack on a wedding” late on Saturday night.
Erdogan said that there was “no difference” between the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who he blames for a failed July 15 coup bid, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) “and Daesh (IS), the likely perpetrator of the attack in Gaziantep”.
“Our country and our nation have again only one message to those who attack us -- you will not succeed!” he said.
The explosion took place in the Sahinbey district of the city which is said to have a large number of Kurdish residents, fuelling speculation of jihadist involvement. Reports said the wedding had a strong Kurdish presence.