Police identify two militants in twin Istanbul bombings

ISTANBUL

AFP photo

Anti-terror police in Istanbul have reportedly identified two militants who carried out the Dec. 10 twin bomb attacks in the heart of the city, which claimed 44 lives and injured hundreds.

After investigating city surveillance cameras, police revealed that two militants scouted police stations around the city before eventually heading toward the Beşiktaş neighborhood. One of the militants got out of the car near Maçka Park, the site of the second bombing.

Police have also revealed that the car used in the attack was bought online and delivered to the militants through a third person.

According to investigations at the scene, a C-4 plastic explosive strengthened with metal pieces was placed inside the car and the suicide vest of the second bomber also included the plastic explosive.

On Dec. 10, a bomb-laden vehicle ran into riot police outside the stadium following a match between Beşiktaş and Bursaspor. Only 45 seconds later, a suicide bomber blew himself up at Maçka Park just across from the stadium. Some 37 police officers and seven civilians were killed in the bombings.