Turkish Authorities Suspect PKK Behind Istanbul Attack

The Turkish authorities have reasons to believe that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants could have been behind the attack that shook Istanbul overnight, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Sunday.

ANKARA (Sputnik) – At least 29 people, including 27 police officers, died as result of the twin blasts in Istanbul, while 166 people were injured.

“It is not yet certain, but there are reasons to suspect the PKK,” Kurtulmus said, as broadcast by the CNN Turk television channel.

He added that 300-400 kilograms (661-881 pounds) of explosives were used in the attack.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan postponed to a later date his visit to Kazakhstan in connection with the attack in Istanbul.

The NTV channel reportedly obtained the information from a source in the administration of the Turkish leader.

The visit to Kazakhstan was planned for December 11-12 at the invitation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The two leaders were expected to discuss bilateral relations, topical issues of the international agenda and the preparations for the third meeting of the strategic cooperation council between the two countries, set to be held in Turkey next year.