August 2016 Gaziantep bombing
{{Short description|Terror attack of a Kurdish wedding by ISIL in Turkey}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = August 2016 Gaziantep bombing
| partof = Turkey–ISIL conflict
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| map = {{Location map | Turkey
| lat_deg = 37.039528 | lat_min = |lat_sec = | lat_dir = N
| lon_deg = 37.392846 | lon_min = |lon_sec = | lon_dir = E
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| marksize = 8
| width = 250
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| location = Şahinbey, Gaziantep, Turkey
| target = Wedding ceremony
| coordinates = {{Coord|37.039528|37.392846|type:railwaystation|display=inline,title}}
| date = {{start date|2016|08|20|df=yes}}
| time = 22:50 EEST
| timezone = UTC+03
| type = Suicide bombing, Mass murder
| fatalities = 57{{cite web|title=29 children killed in Gaziantep attack as death toll rises to 54|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/29-children-killed-in-gaziantep-attack-as-death-toll-rises-to-54-.aspx?PageID=238&NID=103097&NewsCatID=341|website=hurriyetdailynews.com|publisher=Hurriyet Daily News|accessdate=22 August 2016|date=22 August 2016}}{{cite web|title=Death toll rises to 54 in SE Turkey wedding attack|url=http://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/death-toll-rises-to-54-in-se-turkey-wedding-attack-2515328|website=yenisfak.com|publisher=Yeni Şafak|accessdate=22 August 2016|date=22 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822112004/http://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/death-toll-rises-to-54-in-se-turkey-wedding-attack-2515328|archive-date=22 August 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Turkey backtracks on age of wedding bomber|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/22/asia/turkey-gaziantep-blast/index.html|first1=Tim|last1=Hume|first2=Isil|last2=Sariyuce|first3=Joe|last3=Sterling|website=CNN|accessdate=22 August 2016|date=22 August 2016}}{{cite web|title=Turkey strikes Daesh positions in Syria's Jarablous, PKK's Syrian wing also takes hit|url=http://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2016/08/22/turkey-strikes-daesh-positions-in-syrias-jarablous-pkks-syrian-wing-also-takes-hit|website=dailysabah.com|publisher=Daily Sabah|accessdate=22 August 2016|date=22 August 2016}}{{cite web|title=Death toll rises to 57 in ISIL Gaziantep attack|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/death-toll-rises-to-57-in-isil-gaziantep-attack.aspx?pageID=238&nID=104226&NewsCatID=341|website=hurriyetdailynews.com|publisher=Hürriyet Daily News|accessdate=26 September 2016|date=25 September 2016}}
| injuries = 66 (14 critically)
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| perpetrator = {{flagicon|Islamic State}} Islamic State
| assailant = Suicide bomber
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{{Campaignbox Turkey–ISIL conflict}}
{{Suicide attacks in Turkey}}
On 20 August 2016, a suicide bomber targeted a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep, Turkey. 57 people were killed and 66 injured in the attack, 14 critically.
Attack
On 20 August 2016, a suicide bomber targeted a wedding party in Gaziantep, Turkey, at 10:50pm local time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/suicide-bomber-at-turkish-wedding-was-as-young-as-12-president-says|title=Suicide bomber at Turkish wedding was as young as 12, president says |publisher= Fox News|date=21 August 2016|language=en-US|access-date=21 August 2016}} More than 200 people were present at the party. The attack targeted a Kurdish family who had fled the Kurdish town of Siirt due to Turkish-PKK violence,{{cite web | access-date=21 August 2016 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37147717 | title=Turkey wedding suicide bomber 'was child aged 12-14' | work=BBC | date=21 August 2016 | language=en-GB}} and occurred during the traditional henna night party according to witnesses.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-blast-idUSKCN10V0TG|title=Bombing at wedding party in southern Turkey kills at least 50 |date=20 August 2016 |work= Reuters|accessdate=21 August 2016}} The groom was injured in the attack, but the bride escaped unharmed. The groom's injuries were described as non-life-threatening.{{Cite web|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/mena/turkey/at-least-50-killed-in-turkey-wedding-attack-near-syria-border-1.1882463|title=At least 50 killed in Turkey wedding attack near Syria border|last=WAM|first=AFP|date=21 August 2016|access-date=21 August 2016}} A witness reported that two suspicious individuals had approached the party and left the scene following the attack.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/wedding-blast-in-southern-turkey-kills-dozens-1471767231|title=Wedding Blast in Southern Turkey Kills at Least 50|last1=Coker|first1=Margaret|date=21 August 2016|last2=Grove|first2=Thomas|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|access-date=21 August 2016}} The security forces have been looking for these two suspects. The Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) announced that the attack had been carried out against a wedding of their party members.{{cite news|title=HDP'den Gaziantep açıklaması: Parti üyelerimizin düğününe yapılan saldırıyı lanetliyoruz|url=http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/587941/HDP_den_Gaziantep_aciklamasi__Parti_uyelerimizin_dugunune_yapilan_saldiriyi_lanetliyoruz.html|accessdate=21 August 2016}} Mahmut Toğrul, an MP of the HDP for Gaziantep, deemed the attack was a retaliation for the losses the Islamic State (IS) had to endure in Syria against the People's Defense Units (YPG).{{Cite web |last=Letsch |first=Constanze |date=2016-08-22 |title=Erdoğan blames Isis for suspected suicide attack at wedding in Turkey |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/20/several-dead-in-suspected-terrorist-blast-at-wedding-in-turkey |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} Footage from the scene of the attack was banned by Turkey's broadcast regulator RTUK. The attack came hours after Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said that Turkey could play an active role in the Syrian civil war.
A total of 57 people were killed while 66 people were injured in the attack. A high proportion of the fatalities were children, with 34 of the dead being under 18. Thirteen of those killed were women.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37158615 |title=Turkey Kurdish wedding bomber 'may not have been child' |publisher=BBC |date=22 August 2016 |accessdate=23 August 2016 }} Among those injured, 66 were reported as remaining in hospital as of 22 August, and the condition of 14 was reported as serious.
Perpetrator
The IS and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK){{Cite web|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/region/mena/at-least-30-killed-in-turkey-wedding-attack-near-syria-border|title=Turkey wedding attack toll rises to 50 – Khaleej Times|last=AFP|website=www.khaleejtimes.com|access-date=22 August 2016}} were earlier blamed for the attack by AKP parliamentary officials, though no group has yet claimed responsibility.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1279003/at-least-30-killed-in-turkey-wedding-attack-near-syria-border|title=At least 30 killed in Turkey wedding attack near Syria border|last=AFP|date=21 August 2016|access-date=21 August 2016}}{{cite news|title=Bomb attack on wedding kills at least 27 in southern Turkey: Erdogan|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-blast-idUSKCN10V0TG|website=reuters.com|date=20 August 2016 |agency=Reuters|accessdate=20 August 2016}} Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the attacker was believed to be between 12 and 14 years old. He also stated that the attack had probably been carried out by IS.
The Prime Minister, Binali Yıldırım, stated a day later that Turkish authorities were still trying to determine who carried out the attack, and whether the bomber was a child or an adult.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/08/22/turkey-officials-suicide-bomber/89105836/|title=Turkey unsure if wedding party bomber a 'child or a grown-up'|date=22 August 2016|publisher=USA Today|language=en-US|access-date=22 August 2016}} As of 22 August 2016, DNA tests were underway to ascertain the identity of the perpetrator.{{Cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/gaziantep-turkey-seeks-identify-child-bomber-160822083421830.html|title=Gaziantep: Turkey seeks to identify child bomber|date=22 August 2016|work=Al Jazeera|access-date=22 August 2016}}
Reactions
- {{flag|Azerbaijan}}: President Ilham Aliyev sent a letter of condolence to the Turkish President.
- {{flag|Egypt}}: Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid stressed that "the Egyptian people stand by the Turkish people in these critical moments".
- {{flag|France}}: French President François Hollande condemned the attack and offered condolences to authorities and people of Turkey. Foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, tweeted, France is beside Turkey after this cowardly attack.
- {{flag|Greece}}: Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on its Twitter account.
- {{flag|Iran}}: Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Bahram Qasemi has strongly condemned a bomb blast targeting a wedding ceremony in Turkey's southeastern province of Gaziantep. "Carrying out such terrorist acts in a wedding ceremony and the killing of defenseless people and civilians once again clearly displayed the ominous and anti-human goals of Takfiri terrorism," Qasemi said.{{cn|date=July 2021}}
- {{flag|Pakistan}}: Pakistani Foreign Ministry strongly condemning the attack released a statement. "Pakistan condemns this despicable act of terrorism in the strongest possible terms. We extend our profound sympathies and condolences to the brotherly people and Government of Turkey. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost their loved ones. We also pray for the speediest recovery of the wounded".{{cite web |url=http://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2016/08/21/world-powers-condemn-daesh-attack-express-solidarity-with-turkey |title=World powers condemn Daesh attack, express solidarity with Turkey|newspaper=Daily Sabah |date=21 August 2016 |accessdate=21 August 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://aa.com.tr/en/todays-headlines/pakistan-condemns-terror-attack-on-wedding-in-se-turkey/632467|title=Pakistan condemns terror attack on wedding in SE Turkey|website=Anadolu Agency|access-date=21 August 2016}}
- {{flag|Palestine}}: President Mahmoud Abbas decried the attack and offered condolences to his Turkish counterpart, Turkish people and families of the victims.
- {{flag|Qatar}}: Qatar's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and expressed Qatar's support for Turkey's effort to maintain stability and security in the region.
- {{flag|Russia}}: President Vladimir Putin called President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to offer condolences following the attack.
- {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly denounced the attack, and backed Turkey's measures against terrorism.{{Cite web|url=http://aa.com.tr/en/todays-headlines/world-condemns-deadly-terror-attack-on-turkish-wedding/632578|title=World condemns deadly terror attack on Turkish wedding|website=Anadolu Agency|access-date=21 August 2016}}
- {{flag|Sweden}}: Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallström "vehemently condemned" the attack.
- {{flagicon|TRNC}} Turkish Republic of North Cyprus: President Mustafa Akıncı condemned the attack and expressed his country's support and solidarity.
- {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation condemned the attack and denounced all forms of terrorism.
- {{flag|United States}}: The US embassy in Ankara condemned the attack.
- {{flag|United Kingdom}}: On his Twitter account, British Ambassador to Turkey Richard Moore condemned this attack along with previous PKK attacks.{{cite news|url=http://www.dha.com.tr/gaziantepten-aci-haber_1310653.html|title=Turkey wedding explosion: 50 dead and more than 69 injured|last=Gumrucku|first=Tuvan|date=21 August 2016|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=21 August 2016|archive-date=23 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823182324/http://www.dha.com.tr/gaziantepten-aci-haber_1310653.html|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Bombings in Turkey in 2016}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaziantep bombing, 2016 08}}
Category:2016 murders in Turkey
Category:21st century in Gaziantep
Category:August 2016 crimes in Europe
Category:August 2016 in Turkey
Category:Suicide bombings in Turkey
Category:Terrorist incidents in Turkey in 2016
Category:Terrorist incidents in Gaziantep
Category:Persecution of Kurds in Turkey
Category:21st-century mass murder in Turkey
Category:Suicide bombings in 2016
Category:Anti-Kurdish sentiment