British Consul General Killed In Istanbul Bombing

Well, deep down they agree with the goals of the Islamofascists.

They hate America and want to see her brought down.

Wonder how they'll take to manditory prayers five times a day ?

Will the "Center/Left" MPs react with righteous British indignation? Don't hold your breath.

Many UK lefties will blame Bush and, to a lessor extent, Blair.

This morning a reporter asked Blair (paraphrasing): "What would you say to families of those killed because you had Bush visiting today?"

Blair laid the murders directly on the terrorists, but the questioner apparently wanted Blair to say, "I should have cancelled the Bush visit. We better not do anything that upsets those who have sworn to kill us. If we make them mad, they might try to kill us."

These bombers are scum.

During the Bush/Blair q and a a reporter asked, "Pres. Bush, how does it feel to know that people are dying today becuase you and PM Blair are meeting?" I wish he would have answered, "People are dying becuase some people set off a bomb, idiot!"

Worth repeating!

At the scene (and she was probably relatively 'lucky').....

How can we ever allow this cruelty to stand?

Time for the terrorists' annihilation. Total annihilation.

Unbelievable that Bush and Blair have to try to explain the need to stop the spread of terrorism in the world.

Left will respond by blaming Blair for getting involved in Iraq in the first place and consorting with President Bush in the second place.

Unbelievable that Bush and Blair have to try to explain the need to stop the spread of terrorism in the world.

Over and over and over and over and over and over.....

The latest from the BBC Board from people in Turkey: "Your comments:
We can say in Istanbul life has stopped. All the important roads through the bomb area are closed to traffic. The bomb area is one of the most important area for business. HSBC Bank and Metro City (the biggest shopping centre) were damaged. There are more than 25 death and 390 injured people.
Elif Karagoz, Turkey
I totally agree with the interior minister of Turkey, we have to keep calm and we should not panic unnecessarily. These merciless terrorists are watching us with a great joy. We have to recover ASAP but, but never forget what have happened. Deepest condolences to all losses. Mehmet Ilem, Turkey
Terror will NOT achieve what it is looking for: i.e., fear and chaos.. Mustafa Kizilay, Turkey
My office is 250 yards from the HSBC building. I have seen the blast from 18th floor. Terrible noise and smoke, all windows trembled. No damage in my building. We continued work. There is no panic at all. I think there is a misinterpretation in some of the news. There is no panic in the streets, when I read your page I couldn't believe my eyes. Istanbul is a BIG city and life is going on. Terror will NOT achieve what it is looking for: i.e., fear and chaos... Mustafa Kizilay, Turkey
The British Consulate is some 12 miles away from our offices. The fact that we heard this gives some clue as to the size of the blast. In fact such was the noise that a colleague on the Asian side of the water even reported (erroneously) that there had been an explosion near him. This spread of the sound probably accounts for the confusion as to the number of blasts that followed. Its very sad. We all now expect some kind of military intervention. But the Turkish psyche will not give in to terrorism. The people have won enough battles - and won't even think of 'giving up' now. Stuart James, Turkey
The scene is complete chaos, the street is full of smoke. People are running and screaming. This is the by far the most distressing day since the earthquake Baturay Eren, Turkey
I was at the office when all of a sudden I heard and felt a loud noise. I thought it to be thunder striking but I was told it was sunny outside (and as such it couldn't be a thunder strike.). I went out and could see the smoke from Levent. I was at Maslak (About 30 minutes drive from Levent). About 5 minutes later I heard and felt a second explosion. This one was milder though. Salifu Alhassan, Originally from Ghana.
I am working a kilometre away from the HSBC building. We heard the explosion and the ground under our feet shook. At the moment you can see the clouds from all around the city. The explosion was heard even from the Asian part of the city. That's why, until the official explanation has been made, we thought that there were explosions also in Goztepe, Uskudar vs. (asian side). Now, everything has settled a little bit. Everyone is trying to do whatever they can. Terrorist acts, no matter for which purpose or in the name of which belief are cursed all over Turkey. What has happened is a shame for all humankind. Damla Damla Ozluer, Turkey
We saw a smoke cloud higher than 40 meters, raising over Beyolu Fabrizio Mambrini, Turkey
The scene is surreal- half of the city is empty, no traffic, the other half is packed with traffic, tens of ambulances crying over the streets. At the moment of the blast in the British consulate, we saw a smoke cloud higher than 40 meters, raising over Beyolu. Immediately after, news from our colleagues in Levent told us that all the windows of the skyscrapers in that area trembled, and that HSBC building is a wreck. There are people under the concrete, and in the streets people crying everywhere. Road to airport still free but traffic is quickly jamming Fabrizio Mambrini, Turkey
The explosion near the British consulate could be heard at a 10 kilometre radius. The Ernst Young building is located in Sisli which is between Taksim and Levent. The Taksim explosion was noticed by us, which we saw a bubble of dust rise at least 8 stories high. The sound of ambulance sirens now engulf the streets of Istanbul. Many are afraid. Erdem Kilincaslan, Turkey
Istanbul is like hell. Blood, smoke, fear, everywhere... innocent people died in front of our eyes... I want to say one thing to Bush and Blair: Stop the wars, stop exploiting the peoples, stop killing nature and earth... The only way to fight terror is to promote equality, freedom and fraternity; to fight to hunger, poorness; to help poor people of the world... Ahmet Macarolu, Turkey
My office is on the other side of Bosphorus and I heard a shocking blast and then I saw a yellow cloud over the European side. I damn those who are responsible from these bombs Mehmet Eyup Kizilok, Turkey
I left the office immediately to go pick up my kids Ebru, Turkey I live in Levent and it happened like a major earthquake or a gas explosion. I knew there was something wrong so I left the office immediately to go pick up my kids. Levet, the place is like a strip mall with the HSBC facing the exit of the Subway. It is all very cluttered and we go there with the kids to buy bread or candies from the shops. I saw a very dense and yellow smog. We rushed to school and I was the first one to pick the kids up. Now the bus service has been cancelled and most kids are stranded in schools. The main arteries are closed to the traffic. The place at HSBC is the main road of Istanbul leading to both Bridges on the Bosphorus. So people will not be able to go home unless they open the roads. On TV we see charred bodies and very graphic images. We also do not have running water in Levent right now. People are just shocked.... Ebru, Turkey
As many of such incidents, the first news arriving from the crime scene is always the most exaggerated. For the ones who are into what has happened there I would like to brief it as follows. 1. Two major blasts in European side of Istanbul, one in Levent and another in Beyoglu district. The former one aimed the HSBC building, whilst the latter went for the British consulate. 2. The official casualties are reported as 17, as well as some 300 injured. 3. Rumour was, another major explosion took place in the Asian side, however declined by authorities, as well as my personal contacts resident in the said area. 4. There is a shock of sudden terror, however the scenes narrated in the news article are far from being realistic. They sound more like cut pastes of the Marmara region earthquake news from 1999. 5. For the ones unaware, I would like to remind this terrorist act is the second in the past week. First incident took place on past Saturday, in front of two major synagogues of the city. The method (bomb loaded vehicle) used is same for both. 6. We condemn terror and violence from whatsoever reason or source. Utku Oztaskin, Turkey
We need a lot of blood at hospitals Ömer Taylan, Turkey
Sorry for my poor English but i needed to write some words to explain the incredible situation at Istanbul. There were two incredible blast at Levent, front of HSBC Bank and at front of British Consulate at Taksim. There are more than 25 people who are died. We need a lot of blood at hospitals. At the time of explosion we were at Zincirlikuyu and we thought that there is an earthquake. Everywhere at explosion place is filled with body parts. Arms, head and legs. Every where we saw pool of blood. We need to leave in peace, go home TERROR... Ömer Taylan, Turkey
It has been crazy here. There is no traffic in front of my building and people are streaming down the street away from the British Consulate. People who know me ask if Sept. 11th was like this for us in the US. People are angry, saddened and a frightened. Most tell me, "Turkey isn't like this. Istanbul has never been attacked like this before." Robert, USA in Turkey
In Istanbul life has stopped. All the important roads through the bomb area were closed to traffic. The bomb area is one of the most important area for business. HSBC Bank and Metrocity (the biggest shopping centre) were damaged. In Beyoglu the English Consulate was bombed also. There are more than 25 death and 390 injured people. An unknown person called the police department and said that these attacks were made by IBDA-C and El-Kaide; these attacks will go on; Muslims are not alone. The police department said that there may be some similarities to the bombs used in synagogue attacks and the bombs were used today. In today's attacks cars were also used again. An eyewitness said in an interview the car used in Beyoglu attack was a small track and then he said that the track started to go trough the wall of the English Consulate. A few minutes ago the consul had just come to the consulate and still there is not any information about his health. Elif Karagoz, Turkey
I work at the Sabah Newspaper about a km from the HSBC headquarters. At the bombing I was looking out the window. At first I thought it was an earthquake. It smells so strange outside... Mohac Yucel, Turkey
After the explosions there were rumours saying there were many other explosions Kaan Sonal, Turkey
My office is almost 15 km away from the explosion site. Even here people heard the explosion. Some thought it was an earthquake. After the explosions there were rumours saying there were many other explosions on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. (All of them turned out to be fake alarms.) All of us called our relatives and friends even we know they are not there. Telephone lines were busy but they did not stop or collapse. Mobile base stations were sent to site by my company. Kaan Sonal, Turkey
We were in Bogazici university and working in lab. Then two big explosions were heard from Rumelihisarustu which is 3km away from Levent. We sadly guessed terrorist attacks. Four hours ago from explosion I have just crossed in front of HSBC bank and saw young HSBC security boy trying to help the car to leave the park. I just remembered his smiling face. Sad for all passed away. But now we are still trying to finish our homeworks to not to be aware all. That is all we can do now. To study. Sorry for passed away and injured again. Kagan Omay, Turkey
There is really a chaos everyone is in shock whether they live the event or not. As a journalist we should calm down and search but time to time even i don't know what to think. We feel like really living the "11 of September." And another point is even a hundred years ago there have never been an attack to Moslem country in Ramadan. We are so sorry as Turkish people. And we are sorry for the Jewish-Turkish people too. Buse Özel, Istanbul Turkey
First of all, we thought that it was earthquake. Everybody is in shock and people are crying. The telephone lines are disconnected. It was like "11 September in Istanbul" We condemn terror, we condemn Bush and Blair. Many innocent people are wounded and died because of their ambition at this terror attack in Istanbul. Selin Gulen, Istanbul
I work just next to the HSBC building. We've heard the explosion of course and thought that it was an earthquake at first, but then realized the awful situation. The people who committed this act can not be humans and the people who have not experienced something similar will never be able to understand how terrifying this situation is... Sezer Peker, Turkey
People are in panic here Zeynep, Istanbul I heard the explosions at home. At that moment I couldn't help thinking of last Saturday's events, but I tried and do not think much about it. In 5 minutes the telephones got locked, the TVs started showing terrific scenes. It is a big tragedy. People are in panic here. Zeynep, Istanbul/Turkey
My office is 4 km away to the British consulate. At that time we were talking about the explosion in Levet district. And we heard a strong explosion that everyone was panicked. And we saw the smoke going up. We tried to call people on phone but the phone network was blocked because of over load. Mete Cakli, Turkey
As yet, we do not know exactly how many were killed or injured in the blasts. So far the number reported is about 25 killed and 350 injured. This number is expected to grow. An emergency has been declared, traffic diverted for ambulances. Live broadcasts report hospitals are barely coping with the influx, and police investigations going full blast. Tankut Erinc, Turkey
I am working at a company just under 1 km away from the British Consulate in Istanbul. This morning we heard a very loud explosion, the building was shaken. For the past few hours electricity and phone networks have been unreliable. We have not been allowed to leave the building so have not witnessed anything first hand. Simon Harvey, British, living in France
There was total chaos around the place where the terror attack happened Erdem Esder, Istanbul There was total chaos around the place where the terror attack happened and at the same time all people who were watching T.V got shocked and they immediately grasped their phones to call relatives, but the phone lines were down. In these first minutes, I thought that this bloody terror will never end and our trembling underneath black fog of terror will not subside in any hand. Erdem Esder, Istanbul
The city is in chaos. Blood and tears everywhere, people are shocked, angry and mourning loved ones, like they were five days ago. If this a political message; it is an evil politics. Messages should not to be sent this way. There is always a better way. Rakesh Jobanputra, Turkey
The scene is surreal - half of the city is empty, no traffic, the other half is packed with traffic, tens of ambulances crying over the streets. At the moment of the blast in the British consulate, we saw a smoke cloud higher than 40 meters, rising over Beyolu. Immediately after, news from our colleagues in Levent told us that all the windows of the skyscrapers in that area trembled, and that HSBC building is a wreck. There are people under the concrete, and in the streets people crying everywhere. The road to airport is still free but traffic is quickly jamming it up. Fabrizio Mambrini, Turkey

I was at my house on the other side of Bosphorus in Istanbul, when the explosion in Beyoglu occurred. Beyoglu is exactly across from our flat on the 4th floor where we could clearly hear a huge blast of sound and then see the smog over Beyoglu. Zeynep Arslanoglu, Turkey

Take a minute and send a note of condolence to the British embassy and to Turkey. We need to make sure those affected by terrorism do realize that we stand behind them, and thank them for their continued support, even with the hardships thrust at them.

email addresses and links here:

http://www.britainusa.com/embassy/

http://www.turkishembassy.org/start.html

I'm getting more and more pissed at the French and Germans and their non-commitment to the war on terror. I almost hope that the Eiffel Tower got blown up (and nobody hurt of course).

better link:

http://www.turkishembassy.org/contactus.htm

"Pres. Bush, how does it feel to know that people are dying today becuase you and PM Blair are meeting?"

"President Bush, why are you so evil?"

You wonder how 9/11 was not a wakeup call for these people.

The ignorant masses, who can only think what the leftist press tells them to, haven't heard a call to wake up, but a call to appease the terrorists.

Perhaps they are so simple minded that they don't think of world affairs and the fact that America is the target. I sometimes wonder how these simple people manage to live through another day without a terrible accident ending their lives. Stupidity is dangerous.

*ping
Your the man for resources on Turkey.

Stupid f***ing salamikazes.

Other than being very capable murderous bastards, they're really quite stupid -- as if killing large numbers of people in Islamic countries is gonna win them any friends.

In your opinion, which way will the Government tip?