Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul said Friday that several people had been
arrested over what has been dubbed Turkey's own September 11 but
declined to give further details.
Thursday's
bombings that killed Britain's top diplomat in Istanbul were seen as a
deliberate strike against Turkey - a key U.S. ally and fellow member
of NATO - to coincide with U.S. President George W. Bush's state visit
to Britain, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Turkey's
top National Security Council is also investigating an intelligence
report that more than 1,000 “Islamic militants” have recently
returned to Turkey after fighting in conflicts abroad such as in
Afghanistan and Chechnya, according to a television report.
In
a related comment, Istanbul police chief Celalettin Cerrah blamed the
media's "irresponsible reporting" for the second attack,
saying police had been just an hour away from catching the bombers.
"Irresponsible
reporting in the name of a free press has unfortunately caused 27
citizens to fall as martyrs," Cerrah was quoted as saying at the
funeral of two policemen killed in the bomb blasts Thursday.
A
total of 27 people were killed, including the top British diplomat in
the city, in Thursday's attacks, which rocked the city less than a
week after similar truck bombings against two synagogues killed 25
people.
Local
newspapers have identified the two bombers involved in Thursday's
attacks as the accomplices of those who blew themselves up in last
Saturday's synagogue attacks, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan confirmed that all were Turkish nationals.
The
names and pictures of the four were published in Turkish newspapers
the day after the synagogue bombings, and details about the suspects
and the investigation have continued to trickle out despite a media
blackout ordered by the country's state security court.
Cerrah
said police had identified the culprits and traced their connections
within a short time after the first attack, but complained that the
press reports divulging the information "led to the perpetrators
of the second attacks getting away by one hour," the Anatolia
news agency said.
"If
there had not been this irresponsibility then our martyrs would not
have been lying here," he said.
"The
media is still broadcasting horrible images and giving names. For
God's sake, how are we going to fight against terrorism with this
happening?" He charged.
Peace
Marches
 |
|
"Bombs will not stop us living freely," Erdogan (Right)
|
In
another reaction, thousands of people took to the streets in major
Turkish cities, condemning those responsible for the attacks but also
taking aim at the United States over its Iraq invasion.
"I
don't want terrorism, but I don't want war," Mesut, one of a
crowd of 3,000 people who rallied in Taksim Square, was quoted by AFP
as saying.
The
march took place not far from the devastated British consulate where
the Union Jack was flying at half mast as British investigators were
gingerly searching through the ruins.
Like
many of the mainly leftists who turned out, Mesut was angry at the
attackers but had also saved plenty of emotion for President George W.
Bush, particularly in the wake of the U.S.-led Iraq invasion,
according to AFP.
"There
is war in Iraq, there is war in Palestine, the people are very angry
about that," the teenage student said.
Most
of those taking part in the rally, held under the banner "Yes to
Peace, No to War", were from leftist groups, including trade
unionists, students and members of the communist party.
Around
the square, more than 200 police in body armor stood behind riot
shields carefully watching the protestors while police marksmen looked
down from rooftop positions.
Their
presence was not called on in Istanbul or in the capital Ankara and
the southwest city of Izmir, where similar rallies passed off
peacefully, according to the Anatolia news agency.
According
to the BBC online news service, trade unionists and non-governmental
groups had called on people to demonstrate to express their grief and
disgust at the attacks, whose victims included Muslims, Jews and
Christians.
A
broad cross-section of people, including trade unionists, Kurds and
left-wingers, demonstrated near the UK consulate, some carrying white
flowers, BBC said.
“Erdogan’s
Shame”
For
his part, Erdogan spoke of his "shame" that four bombers
involved in the attacks were Turkish nationals but vowed that the
nation would not be cowed.
"Bombs
will not stop us living freely," Erdogan said of the worst-ever
attacks on Turkish soil.
"Four
of those (dead) were terrorist citizens. These people who have
international links have carried out these attacks. It is a shame that
their representatives are among our citizens. But I believe the police
force will catch them."
Erdogan
vowed that his government would continue to fight terror.
"We
condemn all kinds of terrorism no matter which religious or
ideological group it comes from and I believe terrorism will not find
a place in this country."
"Our
hope is that we deal with this issue as soon as possible and we will
continue our struggle (against terrorism) to the end without being
intimidated," Erdogan added.
