Suicider Blows Herself in Istanbul, Police Officer Killed

Turkish forensic officers inspect the area after an attack by a suicide bomber in front of a police station near Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul. Photo: EPA

A female suicide bomber blew herself in Istanbul, killing one police officer and injuring another on Tuesday.

The target of the suicider was a police station in the tourist area Sultanahmet, near the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia museum, the BBC reports.

According to Vasip Sahin, governor of Istanbul, the woman spoke English with a “thick accent”, but so far her identity and nationality remain unknown.

The suicide bomber entered the police station and said she had lost her wallet before blowing herself up.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, which is the second act of violence against the police in Istanbul in a week.

Last week a man was arrested for throwing grenades and opening fire at police officers near the office of the prime minister, but no one was injured in the attack, the BBC reminds.

The banned Marxist DHKP-C group, which is considered terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and the US, claimed responsibility for the attack on January 1.

However this is not the only security threat Turkey faces, as recently there have been skirmishes between Kurdish groups and police in the south-east of the country, as well as spillover of violence from the ongoing civil war in Syria.

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