Cablegate: No Americans Injured in Bomb Attack at Akp

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P 020647Z DEC 08
FM AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8632
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000599

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER TU
SUBJECT: NO AMERICANS INJURED IN BOMB ATTACK AT AKP
ISTANBUL PARTY HQ

1. (SBU) Media sources reported, and an official of Turkey's
ruling AK Party (AKP) confirmed to Consulate personnel, that
at 1500 hours local time an explosion occurred at the AKP
Istanbul headquarters in the Sutluce neighborhood of
Istanbul. Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler released a
statement indicating that the explosion resulted from the
placement of a sound bomb near the entrance of the AKP
headquarters building. According to the AKP official, the
device was hidden in a package placed in the vicinity of an
X-ray machine. Media sources report that the explosion
occurred as party officials were meeting on the upper floors
of the building. It broke windows, but appears to have caused
little structural damage. Ten people, including five police
officers, are reported injured, two critically. No American
casualties have been reported. No claims of responsibility
have yet been made.

2. (SBU) Consulate General Istanbul is following the
situation and will report significant developments as
warranted.

WIENER

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