Türkiye arrests 3 Russian suspects after Istanbul bombing

On January 13, Turkish police arrested three Russian citizens suspected of having links to IS after a suicide bombing in Istanbul killed 10 tourists.

Police cordon off the scene of a bomb explosion in Istanbul.

Turkish news agency Dogan reported that police also confiscated many documents and CDs when searching the residences of these three subjects. Russian news agency Tass also reported that the Russian Consulate General in the city of Antalya, Türkiye, confirmed the information that three of its citizens were arrested by Turkish police, but did not specify the reason for the arrest.

Also related to the bomb explosion in Istanbul, in which the victims were mainly Germans, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere will visit Türkiye on January 13. According to the plan, Mr. de Maiziere will go to the scene of the explosion, consult with local officials and hold a press conference.

Earlier, Chancellor Angela Merkel advised her citizens in Türkiye not to go to public places and tourist attractions after announcing that at least eight people were killed and nine of the 15 injured in the explosion were German.

On January 12, a suicide bombing occurred in the ancient Sultanahmet Square in central Istanbul, where many tourists were visiting, killing 10 people and injuring 15 others. Initial investigations showed that the perpetrator was a member of IS.

Türkiye has been hit by a series of major bomb attacks in recent months. More than 30 people were killed in a suicide attack by IS in the town of Suruc, near the Syrian border, last July. Then, in October, two suicide bombings outside a major railway station in the capital Ankara killed more than 100 people. Turkish authorities said the attack was also carried out by a local IS affiliate.

According to TT&VH