CNN Turk: Explosion rocks Neveh Shalom synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey; 23 reported dead

Haaretz News Ticker ^ | 11/15/2003 | Reuters

[yonif]

CNN Turk: Explosion rocks Neveh Shalom synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey; five reported dead (Reuters)

[yonif]

12 dead, dozens injured. Expected to rise. Local time was 7:30AM. Foreign Ministry of Israel confirms it was a terror attack.

[yonif]

Injured being evacuated (reuters).

[yonif]

Nov. 15, 2003
Synagogues bombed in Istanbul; 11 killed
By JPOST.COM STAFF
ISTANBUL, Turkey


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Two synagogues were bombed in downtown Istanbul Saturday, Israel Radio reports, killing 11 people and injuring several others.

Two cars apparently exploded simultaneously at the Nevei Shalom and Shishli synagogues.

Nevei Shalom was the site of an attack by gunmen in 1986. The gunmen, believed to be Palestinians, killed 22 worshippers and wounded six during a Sabbath service.

With The Associated Press

[drlevy88]

Big question - was it al Qaeda or "just" some no-name hate monger?

[yonif]

Could be a Palestinian Arab terror group.

[drlevy88]

The gunmen, believed to be Palestinians, killed 22 worshippers and wounded six during a Sabbath service.

Hmm! They got away, or were caught but untraceable?

[yonif]

Here is more info on the group who did the terror attack in 1986:

http://www.ict.org.il/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=48

[yonif]

Not sure what to make of this but Israel Radio reports some injured are suffering from breathing in ammonia.

[yonif]

Israeli reporter on the scene says that it looks so bad as if a missile hit the site.

Turkish media source says that 23 dead (this is unconfirmed)

There is a scare currently in the rest of the synagogues around.

Another report says that the synagogue was celebrating a Bar Mitzva at the time.

[MEG33]

God be with the injured and the mourners.I hope they find the perps.

[yonif]

Several killed in Istanbul blast

Saturday, November 15, 2003 Posted: 4:06 AM EST (0906 GMT)

Police have declined to comment on what caused the blasts.

(CNN) -- At least 12 people have been killed and several others injured in an explosion near a synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey, fire officials say.

The explosion happened Saturday morning about a meter from the Neve Shalom synagogue in the Kuledibi district, sources told CNN Turk. Police were investigating the possibility that it was an attack but have not confirmed the cause of the blast.

Video of the scene showed several injured people being loaded into ambulances. Debris covered nearby cars and at least one body could be seen lying in the street.

"There seems to have been several people injures," journalist Andrew Finkel told CNN. "The facade of the building next to the synagogue has been ripped away."

Injured people covered in blood were carried on stretchers from the synagogue, Reuters reported.

Shattered glass littered the streets near the synagogue, the news agency reported. The fronts of buildings were damaged, and cars were covered with debris.

A local hospital was already full to capacity with wounded, CNN Turk said.

"It was a huge bang, my windows are full of debris. It shook my stomach," one witness living nearby told Reuters.

Turkish television network NTV reported a second blast near another synagogue, but it appeared to be caused by natural gas. "One explanation is it was simply an accident," Finkel told CNN.

The Neve Shalom synagogue was the site of a 1986 attack by the Abu Nidal terror organization, killing 22 people during Sabbath services.

[yonif]

Update:

23 Dead

Over 100 Injured.

[yonif]

Haaretz News Ticker:

Turkish television: 23 people killed in Istanbul terror attack; Istanbul mayor confirms blast caused by car bomb

[yonif]

Israel Radio:

Istanbul mayor says both blasts caused by bomb cars WITH SUICIDE TERRORISTS IN THEM.

[yonif]

24 dead now. It continues to rise.

[goldstategop]

Its definitely an Al Qaeda trademark. They did the same thing last year in Mombasa, Kenya. And just a few days ago at the compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

[drlevy88]

al qaeda, or copycats. wonder how long until the goon ghouls 'take reponsibility'??

[yonif]

Israel Radio:

Eye Witness: He was in Shisli synagogue, says he was in there, everything was fine, suddendly lights break up and large explosions happened. Panic was everywhere, and everyone was trying to get out. There were casulties there. Most were older folks.

First was a bomb car in that place and that ignited gas canisters around, causing a fire.

Everyone tried to exit the building but the doors would not open in some areas.

Lots of smoke.

About 350 people were there at the time.

[yonif]

Israel medical services send request to Turkey to allow them to come and help with the casulties.

[yonif]

Chief Rabbi of Turkey's son was injured in terror attack, eye injury.