Terrorist attack adds to uncertainty in Turkey[fr][de]

Published: Monday 28 July 2008

Two bombs exploded on Sunday evening, 27 July, in a crowded pedestrian area of Istanbul, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 150. The attack came a day ahead of crucial deliberations in the Constitutional Court, which onlookers fear will destabilise the largest EU candidate.

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The double bombing appears to be the worst case of terrorist violence in Turkey in nearly five years. There were no immediate claims of responsibility, although Kurdish separatist militants were initially suspected.

The attacks were strongly condemned by the EU.

“The European Commission condemns in the strongest possible terms the hideous bomb attack in Istanbul yesterday, which was clearly designed to kill as many people as possible”, reads a statement by the EU executive.

The President of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Lluís Maria de Puig stated:

"No cause in the world can justify such an odious act, carefully premeditated to kill innocent persons," he said. "There is no place in society for terrorists, Mr de Puig continued. I am convinced that this opinion is shared, not just by the whole of Turkish society, but by all those who subscribe to the community of values represented by the Council of Europe."

The attack came a day ahead of the scheduled start of deliberations in the Constitutional Court on whether to ban the Islamic-oriented ruling AKP party, because of its alleged attempts to undermine secularism. The legal case has raised political tensions in Turkey, where the government is locked in a power struggle with the Kemalists, influential among the military and judiciary, who consider themselves guardians of secularism. But it is not clear whether the bombings are linked to the case.

Two weeks ago Istanbul's chief prosecutor announced indictments against 86 persons charged with forming a terrorist group to overthrow the government (EurActiv 15/07/08). A mysterious organisation, called Ergenekon, was accused of actively fighting the AKP government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. The ruling in the AKP case, which includes charges against 71 party officials and more than 30 MPs, is expected within the next few weeks and is being closely scrutinised by the EU, which has repeatedly stated that a ban on the party would be undemocratic and could deal a serious blow to the country's EU aspirations (EurActiv 01/04/08).