Identity of Suicide Bomber Clarified

The Istanbul Governorship announced the identity of the suicide bomber who blew up himself on Istanbul's centrally located Taksim Square on Sunday (31 October). His name was Vedat Acar.

32 people were injured in the attack, among them 15 policemen. 24-year-old Acar was registered in the district of Gürpınar in the south-eastern province of Van.

According to the governorship's announcement, Acar entered Turkey three months ago coming from Habur (northern Iraq). It was said that he joined the outlawed armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in 2004.

The governorship stated that eight people who were supposedly involved in the attack were taken into police custody, among them also Acar's brother Sedat Acar.

In a declaration on Monday (1 November), the Democratic Confederation of Kurdistan (KCK), the umbrella organization that includes the PKK, had denied any connections to the incident and announced to have extended the ceasefire until the general elections in June next year. (BB/VK)