who is Ahlam Albashir, the woman convicted of the attack

Woman arrested for Istanbul bombing – Photo by Ansa Foto

It would be a woman who would be responsible for the attack which shook the city of Istanbul yesterday afternoon, Sunday November 13. Her name is Ahlam Albashir, she is 23 years old, she is of Syrian nationality and was arrested with 21 other people.

The young woman is said to have acted on behalf of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). She herself confessed to being part of the party and entering Turkey illegally from the Afrin region in northern Syria. Albashir, if she had not been arrested, would have fled to Greece: “The person who planted the bomb has been arrested. According to our findings, the PKK organization is responsible for the attack,” Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said, adding that “21 other suspects were also arrested.”

Istanbul, Soylu: “Order given by Kobane”

Soylu accused Kurdish forces who control much of northeast Syria, which Ankara considers terrorists, of being behind the attack: “We believe that the order of the attack was given by Kobané”.

For the moment, there is no more information on the woman arrested, nor on the circumstances of the arrest. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag referred to a bag lying on a bench: “A woman sat on a bench for 4 minutes 45 minutes, and some time later there was an explosion. All data on this woman is currently being reviewed,” she explained, adding that “either this bag contained a timer or someone activated it remotely.”

During the attack, which took place in Istikal Street, in the Taksim district on the European side, six people died, while 81 were injured.

Ankara: “If they want friendship with Turkey, countries must stop supporting terrorism”

“Terrorist attacks against our civilians are direct or indirect consequences of the support of certain countries to terrorist organizations.” This was stated by Fahrettin Altun, communications director of Turkish President Recep Tayyp Erdogan. In addition to the PKK, the attack, according to Turkish authorities, was also ordered by the YPG, a Kurdish-Syrian armed formation that has been supported in recent years by the United States and other Western countries in an anti-terrorism function. Isis: “If these countries want friendship with Turkey, they must immediately stop their direct and indirect support for terrorism,” he added.