ISIL claims responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing in Diyarbakir. It's the first attack the group has admitted to carrying out in Turkey.
ADVERTISEMENTISIL has claimed responsibility for a deadly car bomb attack in Diyarbakir, southeast Turkey, according to a statement by its Amaq news agency.
It’s the first attack in Turkey that the group has laid claim to.
'Amaq reported #ISIS responsibility for #Diyarbakir car bombing, 2 days after ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called for attacks in #Turkeypic.twitter.com/nzOmOa10Y0
— SITE Intel Group (@siteintelgroup) November 4, 2016
The blast in the early hours of Friday morning (November 4) came less than two days after the release of an audio message – purportedly made by ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – in which he urges fighters to attack both Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The recording has not been verified.
In speech, #ISIS Baghdadi rallies his fighters, esp. those in Mosul, portrays war as Sunni vs Shiite, & calls for attacks in #KSA & #Turkey
— SITE Intel Group (@siteintelgroup) November 2, 2016
At least nine people died in the bombing near a police station in the predominantly Kurdish-populated town. Around 100 people were reportedly wounded.
Turkish officials initially blamed the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for the attack, which took place in the Baglar district. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said one suspected PKK member was among those killed in the blast.