Germans hit hard in Istanbul bombing

(B2) Germany is paying a heavy price in the attack that took place this Tuesday (January 12), morning (10:20 a.m.), in Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district, between the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. An eminently tourist district particularly frequented by foreigners. Dix Germans were finally killed out of the eleven victims according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1). And, nine other Germans are among the fifteen wounded " some of them seriously ". The author of the attack blew himself up on the spot – a Syrian born in 1988 according to the first information – using the kamikaze method.

One of the most serious attacks targeting the Germans

« For many years, terrorism had not hit the Germans as hard as it is today in Istanbul” Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a statement posted on his website. “The cancer of terrorism spares no one, it also threatens us all, in Turkey, in Europe and elsewhere »

don't give in

« We must and we will not be intimidated by murder and violence. On the contrary. Together with our partners around the world, we will continue to confront terror at all levels wanted to underline Frank-Walter Steinmeier, asking however “ a quick clarification on the authors and sponsors of this attack. The federal government was also meeting on Tuesday evening. Purpose of the meeting: the progress of the investigation and assistance to those affected.

The challenge: to hit tourism

This attack is part of a rather long series in Tunisia (Bardo Museum in March, Sousse in June) and in Egypt (Pyramids of Luxor in June, etc.), deliberately targeting tourist places frequented mainly by foreign visitors and Europeans. The challenge is twofold: to hit European countries and above all to hit the economy of the countries concerned by encouraging tourists in the future to no longer frequent these places. It should be noted that the Turkish authorities very quickly questioned the organization of the Islamic State (even if no claim was known) whereas until now the attacks were attributed to Kurdish movements (or claimed by them). Germany had been warned before the new year of possible attacks targeting it. The alert had been taken seriously in Munich, which seemed particularly targeted.

(NGV)

Consult our file No. 32. Europe facing a new wave of terrorism

(1) The first assessment reported an initial assessment established at 8 people,

(Maj) Wed 13.1 - 19h. (assessment and origin of the suicide bomber)