Two sentenced to life for explosion in Istanbul's Güngören in 2008

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

An Istanbul court has sentenced two people to life imprisonment and six others to several years in jail for a 2008 explosion in Istanbul’s Güngören district that killed 17 and wounded 90 others.

The Istanbul 12th High Criminal Court sentenced Hüseyin Türeli and Nusret Tebiş to 18 aggravated life sentences for the voluntary manslaughter of 17 victims, including a pregnant woman, and attempting to damage the unity of the state on Oct. 31.

Two suspects, Ziya Kıraç and Abdurrahman Oral, were sentenced to 12 years in jail for each on charges of being a member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), while Şerafettin Kara was sentenced to 11 years and three months in jail for intentionally helping the PKK and violating the law on firearms.

Aydın Ağlar was sentenced to nine years in jail for intentionally helping the PKK, while Mehmet Salih Yanak received 19 years and six months in jail for being a member of the PKK, violating the firearms law and forging official documents. Şaban Güneş, meanwhile, was given two years and one month in jail for being a member of the PKK.

Another suspect, Cihan Aydın, was dealt 15 years and nine months for intentionally helping the PKK, violating the firearms law and forging official documents.

The court also acquitted Cevat Aydın of all charges, while releasing Mehmet Salih Yanak on the basis of time already served while under arrest.

On July 27, 2008, a percussion bomb exploded in Güngören, followed by another bigger bomb a few minutes later. After the first bomb, many came to the scene to help the injured and inspect the damage, at which point they were subjected to a second, more devastating explosion. In addition to the pregnant woman, four children were also killed in the blasts.

Eight members of the PKK were arrested by the court for the attack, and one reportedly confessed the crime.