Istanbul, Nov 20: An unidentified caller claimed responsibility for the two bomb blasts in Istanbul on behalf of al-Qaeda and a Turkish underground Islamic extremist group, Anatolia news agency reported. "The attacks are a joint action by the Islamic front of raiders of the great orient (IBDA-C) and al-Qaeda. Our attacks against masonic targets will continue. Muslims are not alone," the caller told Anatolia news agency in taking responsibility for the attacks. The person said in a phone call to the agency that the attacks, which left at least 15 dead and injured over 300, were a joint attack by the two groups. The Islamic extremist group, along with al-Qaeda, also took responsibility for the Saturday suicide bombings of two synagogues in Istanbul, which killed 25 people and injured more than 300. The group, which was founded in 1984 and has been active over the past decade in the Istanbul region where it has conducted attacks against bars, discotheques and churches, said at the time its aim was to "stop the oppression of Muslims."
Bureau Report