12 December 2016, 09:31 GMT
ANKARA (Sputnik) – Tensions between Ankara and the Kurdish pro-independence PKK escalated in 2015, after a three-year ceasefire between the two sides collapsed over a series of terror attacks allegedly committed by PKK members. This prompted Ankara to launch a military operation in Kurdish-dominated, southeastern regions.
"The operation carried out in four country’s provinces resulted in detention of 44 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party. It was determined that one of them masterminded the blasts near the Besiktas stadium [Vodafon Arena], he left the car loaded with explosives which blasted in a minute," Sahin told the CNN Turk broadcaster.
On December 10, two bombs exploded near the Vodafone Arena Stadium in the Turkish city of Istanbul, killing 44 people, including 38 police officers. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), a militant group considered by Ankara as an affiliate of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), claimed responsibility for the deadly bombings.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu (C), leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), lays flowers at the scene of December 10 blasts outside the Vodafone Arena football stadium on December 14, 2016 in Istanbul
© AFP 2023 / YASIN AKGUL
