Explosions rock Istanbul

[Gimel]

At least two explosions rocked downtown Istanbul on
Thursday morning, near the British and Israeli
consulates, the HSBC Bank headquarters and the
Metro City shopping center. Turkish television,
quoting city health officials, said at least 15
people were killed and 320 wounded.

At least three people, including a security guard,
were killed at the consulate - apparently in an explosion
that ripped off the wall surrounding the garden of the
British consulate in the downtown Beyoglu district -
and at least two people were killed at the bank, said
Jemil Cicek, Turkey's justice minister. London-based HSBC
is the world's second-largest bank.

An official from the Israeli consulate in
Istanbul, which is near HSBC, said no consulate
staff members were harmed. A Jewish club and a
synagogue were also near one of the blasts.

Three or four British employees from the British
consulate in Istanbul had not reported to a roll call
following blasts in the Turkish city, British
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Thursday.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/363358.html

[Gimel]

1. the scene 9/11 revisited

People running in terror (many bloodied which was not the case in NY attack) smoke rising, people frantically trying to dig under the rubble. Huge disaster area. No preparation for this.

[nocreativename]

2. it's Ramadan

Or the holy month. And there are Muslims dieing in these bombings. Doesn't the Qur'an talk about not killing Muslims? All I'm saying here these people must really think they are sent but god to do this.

I spent some time in turkey and I liked it and this is the last thing they need.

[Lurking Dem]

3. This is how fundamentalism spreads.

Turkish Muslims, historically, have been very protective of their Jewish population and very interested in doing business with western interests.

Soon will be rumblings of "If it weren't for our Jews we wouldn't be getting attacked." "If local businesses weren't so keen on getting western dollars, we wouldn't face this menace." etc., etc.

Then they win.