Turkey Suicide Bombings Kill 38, Injures 155 Others As Kurdish Militants Own Attacks

By Richard Chiu
Turkey suidice bombing
 The Associated Press

Two suicide bombers from a Kurdish militant group killed 38 people and wounding 155 others in two bomb blasts near a soccer stadium Saturday.

The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK)based in Turkey claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attacks where they were targeting police and security personnel stationed outside the Besiktas soccer stadium where a match just ended.

The Turkey government declared a national day of mourning Sunday for the tragedy.

In a statement released to the press, they militant group said that their comrades that carried the attack were "heroically martyred." They group blamed the attack on "state- sanctioned" violence in the southeast and the incarceration of Abdullah Ocalan, the proclaimed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The TAK is believed to be the armed group of the PKK.

The Turkey suicide bombings were carried out in two cars rigged with bombs that were detonated just outside the stadium. Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other top government officials condemned the bombing and vowed that they would hunt down those involved in perpetrating the incident.

Reports confirmed that 30 of those who died were police officers, according to Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu. At least 13 suspects have been detained for questioning and are believed to be connected to the attacks.

Authorities, on the other hand, failed to deny or confirm the involvement of the TAK in the suicide bombings. The ongoing struggle between the government and PKK has been a bloody one, where tens of thousands have already died, including civilians.

Investigators said the first explosion occurred around 10:30 PM Saturday during a championship match of the Turkish Super League. Although the bombers may have planned to place the bombs in areas where they were meant to do a lot of damage and deaths, most of the spectators had left the building when it went off.

The other one was detonated moments after the first explosion when authorities tried to stop a suspicious person in a nearby park. The bomber triggered the bomb at the first sign of authorities trying to question the person.

Turkey has suffered several terror-related attacks this year, carried out by ISIS and Kurdish militants. The latest one was the bombing of Ataturk Airport in June where it claimed the lives of 44 people and wounded dozens of people, including women and children.

The militant PKK also took responsibility for some attacks in Istanbul, Ankara and some areas in southeast Turkey.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.