Bodies Of Israeli Victims Of Istanbul Attack Sent Home

Photo: Anadolu Agency

Istanbul, 12 Jumadil Akhir 1437/21 March 2016 (MINA) – The bodies of three Israeli citizens who lost their lives in Saturday’s suicide bomb attack on Istanbul’s Istiklal Street were sent to Israel on Sunday.

Five Israeli citizens injured by the blast also flew on the same plane.

The blast killed five people, including the suicide bomber, and injured 39 others. Out of the total injured, 24 are foreigners, Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin said, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The Israeli victims have been identified by the Israeli Foreign Ministry as Simha Dimri, 60, Yonatan Suher, 40, and Avraham Goldman, 69.

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According to the White House, and the Israeli Foreign Ministry, two of the Israeli victims were dual U.S.-Israeli citizens.

An Iranian, Ali Reza Khalman, 31, is among the dead, according to Turkish police.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sent messages of condolences to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri over the deaths of their citizens.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, for his part, condemned the bombing at a Sunday press briefing.

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“The key to the moral fight against terrorism is to make it clear that terrorism, the murder of innocents, has no justification anywhere — not in Istanbul or the Ivory Coast or Jerusalem,” he said.

On Sunday, DNA tests identified the suicide bomber as Mehmet Ozturk, 24, a Turkish national born in the southeastern province of Gaziantep.

Interior Minister Efkan Ala said Ozturk was a suspected member of Daesh.

Erdogan offers condolences to Israel, Iran

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered his condolences to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin over the deaths of Israeli and Iranian citizens in Saturday’s suicide blast in Istanbul.

In his condolence message to Rivlin Sunday, Erdogan said he was sad to learn about the deaths of three Israeli citizens and injury to 10 others in the Istanbul attack.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the Israeli nation and the families of Israeli citizens who lost their lives in this treacherous terror attack while they were in Istanbul to visit our country and know our culture closely. I also wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the Turkish president said.

In his condolence message to Rouhani Sunday, Erdogan said he was deeply grieved over the death of an Iranian citizen and injuries to three others.

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“I wish God’s mercy on your deceased citizen who lost his life during this abominable attack and offer my sincerest condolences on behalf of my nation and myself to friendly Iranian nation, and primarily to his family and relatives; I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the president added. (T/P010/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

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