Alleged bomber dies in blast in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

The bomb exploded about 30 meters away from the Akpınar neighborhood office of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), according to reports. DHA photo

A woman who was allegedly carrying a bomb inside her bag died after the explosives went off in Istanbul’s Sancaktepe district at around 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 9. Police are reportedly on the hunt for another alleged bomber who ran away from the scene on foot.

Law enforcement officials found two identity cards bearing different names on the body of the dead woman, who was reportedly around 20 to 25 years old. The dead woman’s body, torn to pieces in the blast, was taken to the Forensics Institute after preliminary examinations, reported the Doğan news agency.

The bomb exploded about 30 meters away from the Akpınar neighborhood office of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). No one else was hurt in the incident, according to reports. Eyewitnesses said another person next to the female bomber ran away from the scene on foot. Police notified nearby hospitals on suspicion the fugitive suspect may be injured.

The police suspect the bombers were members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), reported Agence France-Presse.

Meanwhile, the body of gendarmerie Cpl. Metin Çetin, 22, who died in Thursday’s clashes with the PKK, was brought to Trabzon on Feb. 9.