Explosion In Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Two explosions took place in the building in Kartal district of Istanbul killing two persons and wounding six others on Tuesday night.
The two blasts took place one after another in the three-storey building housing a Masonic lodge around 22.30 hours. According to the information received so far, two persons died and six others were wounded in the blasts. Five wounded persons were taken to Kartal hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile suicide bomber is believed to be behind the blast, there can be a wounded suicide bomber in the building.
Bomb experts teams came to the scene and police took tight security measures in the region.
ISTANBUL GOVERNOR: ONE SUICIDE BOMBER AND ONE WAITER DIE IN EXPLOSION
Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said early on Wednesday that one terrorist who detonated the explosive on himself and one waiter died in the explosion that took place in Kartal, Istanbul.
Speaking to reporters, Guler said that two persons who came to the three-storey building housing Masonic Lodge around 22.10, shot the security guard in his feet. Later the terrorists opened fire on the building from the window and entered the building`s restaurant part. One terrorist was killed when he detonated the bomb on himself at the entrance and one waiter who was near him also died in the explosion, Guler said.
Guler added that the second terrorist was seriously wounded while five persons who were among the people dining in the restaurant were also wounded.
Guler said that nothing happened to other persons dining in the restaurant part of the building in the explosion except five people. Guler said that about 40 people had been eating in the restaurant at the time of the attack.
``The explosion occurred near the entrance and the wounded were all seated nearby,`` Guler said.
Guler said that one waiter namely Huseyin Kurugol died in the explosion, adding that the identity of the bombers was being investigated.
When reminded about the name of the wounded terrorist (Abdullah Islam) who was hospitalized, Guler said that ``he told that name himself, it can be right or wrong.`` Guler said the wounded terrorist lost an arm in the blast and was rushed to hospital with his intestines hanging out.
Guler said that Istanbul police was investigating the attack.
Apart from broken windows, the building did not suffer much damage, he said.
When asked if the Masonic lodge had earlier made any security demand, Guler said that the lodge didn`t have such a demand as it had its own security system.
Guler remarked that detailed information would be taken from the persons who were in the building when the attack took place. Guler said that the security guard was shot in his feet and the others were wounded in the explosion.
``One of the terrorists detonated the bomb he had on him, the bomb`s type is known, but we can`t give you all the information now due to security reasons,`` Guler said. Guler said that two bombs exploded, adding that one of the five wounded persons except the terrorist was in serious condition.

ISTANBUL GOVERNOR SAYS EXPERTS DON`T THINK RECENT SUICIDE ATTACK HAS LINKS WITH NOVEMBER`S TERRORIST BLASTS IN ISTANBUL
Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said early on Wednesday that experts did not think that the recent suicide attack staged on Masonic Lodge in Istanbul had links with the November`s terrorist blasts staged on two synagogues, HSBC Bank headquarters, and British Consulate General in Istanbul.
Guler told reporters that nobody had claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on the Masonic Lodge yet.
Istanbul Governor Guler refrained from answering questions on the type of the bomb and identities of the terrorists since the investigation continued.
Asked if the suicide attack on Masonic Lodge could have any connection with the former terrorist attacks staged in Istanbul, Guler said that the style of the recent suicide attack, the arms and type of bomb used in the attack, and the identities of the suicide bombers were very different.
Therefore, Guler noted, they did not think that this recent suicide attack had links with the former terrorist attacks in Istanbul.
One suicide bomber and one waiter died in the explosion that took place in Kartal district of Istanbul as the terrorist detonated the bomb on himself.
Two terrorists came to the three-storey building of Masonic Lodge around 10.10 p.m. on Tuesday, shot the security guard in the feet, opened fire on the building from the window, and entered the restaurant inside the building.
One terrorist was killed when he detonated the bomb on himself at the entrance and one waiter who was near him died in the explosion.
The second terrorist was seriously wounded and hospitalized.
Five other people who were among those dining in the restaurant were also wounded. One of these five people were immediately treated and discharged from hospital.
On November 15, 2003, two explosions had occurred in front of Neve Shalom Synagogue and Beth Israel Synagogue in Istanbul. Twenty-five people died and 262 others were injured in the attacks which were staged by two pick-up trucks loaded with explosives on two synagogues.
Twin suicide attacks had been staged on HSBC Bank headquarters and British Consulate General in Istanbul on November 20, 2003. Thirty-three people died, including British Consul General in Istanbul Roger Short, and 450 others were injured in the twin suicide attacks which were also staged by two pick-up trucks.

TERRORISTS WRAPPED THEMSELVES WITH HOMEMADE PIPE BOMBS
Terrorists who staged bomb attack last night in Kartal district of Istanbul wrapped themselves homemade pipe bombs, sources said.
Sources said that police investigation into the attack on ``Free and Accepted Masons Grand Lodge`s Office in Yakacik`` had been under way.
During their investigation, police officers found out that both terrorists had each 8-10 homemade pipe bombs strapped on their bodies.
Police had been working on identification of the terrorists, sources added.
Meanwhile, treatment of five people injured in the attack, including one terrorist has been continuing.
The terrorist who was seriously injured when he detonated the bomb on him underwent surgery in the Kartal Hospital.
One person who was seriously injured also underwent surgery while one person was discharged from hospital.
In the attack, suicide bomber and a waiter were killed while six people including the other terrorist who called himself ``Abdullah Islam`` were injured.
(MS-AÖ) 10.03.2004