Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

Turkey PM says suicide attack suspect identified, blames IS

- Agence France-Presse letters@hindustant­imes.com

SURUC: Turkey, on Tuesday, said it had identified a suspect over the devastatin­g suicide bombing on the border with Syria that left 32 activists dead and blamed Islamic State jihadists behind the attack.

“One suspect has been identified. All the (suspect’s) links internatio­nally and domestical­ly are being investigat­ed,” he said in televised comments.

He added there was a ‘high probabilit­y’ the attack was caused by a suicide bomber with connec- tions to Islamic State (IS) jihadists.

“We expect this investigat­ion to be concluded as soon as possible,” Davutoglu added.

Davutoglu said that the death toll had risen to 32 and added that 29 victims were still hospitalis­ed.

“What’s necessary will be done against whomever responsibl­e for (the attack),” said Davutoglu. “Nobody should ever doubt this.”

“This is an attack that targeted Turkey,” he added.

Davutoglu meanwhile said a cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday would look at additional security measures for Turkey’s border with Syria.

“We will also discuss an action plan about additional security measures to be taken on our border at the cabinet meeting and will take necessary measures.”

He vehemently denied suggestion­s from some commentato­rs that Turkey and the ruling Justice and Developmen­t Party (AKP) had encouraged IS jihadists in the past.

“Turkey and AK Party government­s have never had any direct or indirect connection with any terrorist organisati­on and never tolerated any terrorist group,” he said.

 ?? AFP ?? British Prime Minister David Cameron said that conspiracy theories of a Western plan to destroy Islam must be challenged in efforts to counter radicalisa­tion.
AFP British Prime Minister David Cameron said that conspiracy theories of a Western plan to destroy Islam must be challenged in efforts to counter radicalisa­tion.

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