2016 Bursa bombing

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = 2016 Bursa bombing

| partof = Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)

| image = Bursa Ulu Cami Turkey 2013 2.jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| location = near Grand Mosque, Osmangazi, Bursa

| target =

| coordinates = {{Coord|40.1839|29.0617|display=inline,title}}

| date = 27 April 2016

| time = 17:26

| timezone = UTC+3

| type = Suicide bombing

| fatalities = 1 (the perpetrator)

| injuries = 13

| perpetrators =

| perp = Eser Çali

| perpetrator = TAK{{cite news|title=Kurdish militants claim suicide bombing in Turkey's Bursa: website|work=Reuters| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-blast-bursa-claim-idUSKCN0XS1F9|date=1 May 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}

|weapons =

}}

On 27 April 2016, a suicide bombing took place in the Turkish city of Bursa.{{cite web|title=Female suicide bomber wounds at least seven in Turkey's Bursa|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-turkey-blast-idUKKCN0XO1U8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428105009/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-turkey-blast-idUKKCN0XO1U8|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 28, 2016|publisher=Reuters|access-date=27 April 2016}}{{cite news|title=Turkey bombing in Bursa: 'Female suicide attacker' attacks near city's Grand Mosque|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-bombing-in-bursa-female-suicide-attacker-targets-grand-mosque-a7003901.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-bombing-in-bursa-female-suicide-attacker-targets-grand-mosque-a7003901.html |archive-date=2022-05-01 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Independent|access-date=27 April 2016}}{{cbignore}} The bombing took place at 17:26 (UTC+3), near the western entrance of the Grand Mosque and a covered market.{{cite web|title=Bursa Ulu Cami yakınında bombalı saldırı|url=http://www.ntv.com.tr/turkiye/bursa-ulu-cami-yakinindabombali-saldiri,9MnLDNZ0iUaLNQ8CWwmfAA|publisher=NTV|access-date=27 April 2016|language=tr}} One person, the suicide bomber, was killed and 13 people were injured. The injured people received only light injuries.{{cite web|title=Gündem Bursa'da Ulu Camii yanında canlı bomba saldırısı; 7 kişi yaralandı!|url=http://t24.com.tr/haber/bursa-ulu-camii-yakininda-patlama-yaralilar-var,338075|publisher=T24|access-date=27 April 2016|language=tr}} Extensive damage to nearby shops and cafes was reported.

Bombing

The bombing occurred as a crowd that had gathered for a funeral prayer was dispersing. Those that were injured were struck by bomb fragments and broken glass. The suicide bomber was an approximately 25-year-old woman.{{cite web|title=Bursa'da Ulu Camii yakınında intihar saldırısı|url=http://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/bursada-ulucami-yakininda-patlama|publisher=CNN Türk|access-date=27 April 2016}} The Interior Minister, Efkan Ala announced her identity as 1992-born Eser Çali,{{cite web|author=Hürriyet Haber |url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/efkan-ala-bursadaki-canli-saldirganin-ismini-acikladi-40098198 |title=Efkan Ala Bursa'daki canlı saldırganın ismini açıkladı - Gündem Haberleri |website=Hurriyet.com.tr |date=2 May 2016 |access-date=2016-08-21}} whose family lives in a small village of Iğdır Province near the Armenian border.{{cite web|author=DHA |url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/canli-bombanin-babasi-kizim-eser-kendine-yazik-etti-40097984 |title=Canlı bombanın babası: Kızım Eser kendine yazık etti - Gündem Haberleri |website=Hurriyet.com.tr |date=2 May 2016 |access-date=2016-08-21}} The area is one that is always crowded and tourist groups were present at the time of the bombing. Security sources speaking to T24 suggested that the bomber might have blown herself up earlier than intended.

Following the bombing, the area was cleared of people by the police and Atatürk Avenue was closed off to traffic. Turkish people reacted on social media by tweeting "enough is enough".{{cite web|title=Bursa'daki canlı bomba saldırısı sosyal medyada: Yeter artık!|url=http://t24.com.tr/haber/sosyal-medya-bursadaki-patlamayi-konusuyor,338079|publisher=T24|access-date=27 April 2016|language=tr}}

The bombing came one day after a warning by the US Embassy in Turkey about "credible indications" of imminent terrorist attacks, urging American citizens to be "vigilant" in "crowded public areas and popular tourist destinations". Turkey had recently been hit by a number of bombings in the months preceding the bombing, most recently the March 2016 Istanbul bombing by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the March 2016 Ankara bombing by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), an offshoot and affiliate of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

No immediate claim or official announcement with regards to the perpetrators of the attack was made.{{cite web|title=Suicide bombing near Grand Mosque of Bursa in Turkey, at least 7 wounded|date=27 April 2016 |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/suicide-bombing-near-grand-mosque-of-bursa-in-turkey-at-least-7-wounded-1.2877079|publisher=CTV|access-date=27 April 2016}} According to Turkish daily Cumhuriyet, security forces were investigating the possibility of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant having committed the attack.{{cite web|title=Bursa'da canlı bomba saldırısı: 1 ölü, 13 yaralı|url=http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/523337/Bursa_da_canli_bomba_saldirisi__1_olu__13_yarali.html|publisher=Cumhuriyet|access-date=27 April 2016|language=tr}} On May 1, TAK however claimed responsibility.