BOMBING IN ANTALYA

UNCLAS E F T O ANKARA 004972 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER, DS/ITA, DS/IP/EUR E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2011 TAGS: PTER PREL IZ TU SUBJECT: BOMBING IN ANTALYA REFS: A. IIR 1 671 2529 06 ¶B. ANKARA 4953 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On Monday, August 28, 2006 at approximately 1640 hours local an explosion occurred in the tourist port city of Antalya killing three (3) and injuring an estimated 30 people (media reports have reported as many as 87 injured). The Turkish National Police (TNP) have confirmed that all three of the dead are Turkish citizens (including one retired TNP officer). The injured included Israeli, German, Russian, Dutch and Jordanian citizens. The TNP are currently searching for two suspects in the bombing. There have been no claims of responsibility. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) At approximately 1640 hours local, an explosion occurred in the Donerciler area of downtown Antalya. TNP contacts report that the device (NFI) was placed next to a vendor cart directly across the street from the Municipality Business Center and a number of busy restaurants. ¶3. (SBU) The TNP are currently searching for two suspects who witnesses say they saw placing a "package" next to the vendor cart. ¶4. (SBU) There has been no claim of responsibility for this bombing although the KGK-affiliated Taybazen Azadiya Kurdistan (TAK - Turkish Freedom Hawks) has been linked to similar attacks in the past. ¶5. (SBU) On Monday, August 28, 2206 the TNP arrested an individual affiliated with the KGK in Izmir carrying explosives (2.5 kg of A-4) and suspected of planning an attack in that city. The TNP also took a number of other suspects into custody in the operation. ¶6. (SBU) The following is an update to reftels A and B: - According to TNP contacts the MLKP/FESK is the lead suspect in the August 25 bombings in Adana. - Through a posting on their website the Taybazen Azadiya Kurdistan (TAK - Turkish Freedom Hawks) has claimed responsibility for the August 28 explosions in Marmaris and Istanbul. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON