Prime suspect in deadly bombing revealed to be school teacher

ŞANLIURFA - Doğan News Agency

DHA photo

A school teacher was detained Aug. 22 on accusations of organizing a terrorist bombing that killed nine people, including four children.
 
A car laden with explosives was detonated on the evening of Aug. 20 in Gaziantep, killing nine people, of whom four were children, and injuring 68.
 
M.H., a school teacher and vice-principal at a school in Siverek district of the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa, was detained in Mersin on Aug. 22 on accusations of organizing the attack and helping deliver the car used in the bombing to its destination. 
 
Reports claimed that a member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was driving the car to Gaziantep when it broke down and that the PKK member called his superiors to receive instruction about what to do next. The PKK, in turn, allegedly sent M.H. to the car's location to take care of the problem. Upon arrival at the scene, M.H. first called two mechanics to repair the car and then called in a tow truck after the mechanics failed to start the vehicle. 
 
M.H. allegedly instructed the tow-truck driver to leave the car at a spot in Gaziantep where it later blew up. Police first found the tow-truck driver after the bombing and reportedly reached M.H. through the phone number they obtained from the driver. 
 
A father of three children, M.H. was described as a calm-mannered person by his colleagues and friends, who were in shock to hear that the man was accused of sending the car to Gaziantep.
 
Anti-terror police reportedly found leads connecting M.H. to the PKK's alleged urban wing, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK). 
 
Reports did not clarify whether the tow-truck driver or the mechanics knew the car was laden with explosives.