Three families among Istanbul bombing victims

A bomb attack shook Istanbul on Sunday. The explosion in the heart of the Turkish metropolis kills six and injures 81.

Four of the six fatalities died on the spot, two others later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Among the victims were father Yusuf M.* († 34) and his daughter Ecrin († 9) as reported by Turkish media. M. actually wanted to spend a nice Sunday with his little one and stroll the shopping street – but the two never came back.

“Colleagues and daughter lost”

M. worked for the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Affairs. Derya Yanik, head of the ministry, cannot believe that M. has been killed: “We have lost our colleague and his daughter. Our condolences go out to his family, relatives and colleagues.”

Little Ecrin is not the only minor to have died in the massacre. As reported by Turkish media, Yağmur U.* (†15) and her mother Arzu Ö.* (†38) were walking on Istiklal Street when the bomb went off. According to media reports, Yağmur is the daughter of a Turkish actor.

The couple dies and two-year-old Eliz is orphaned

After the tragedy, the relatives have nothing left. For example, two-year-old Eliz, whose parents Adem († 40) and Mukaddes († 27) T.* also died in the attack. Eliz was orphaned overnight.

As reported by Turkish media, the couple traveled from the northeast of Gümüşhane to Istanbul for a weekend trip. Adem recently posted a photo of his Eliz on social media. “The princess is two years old,” the proud father wrote under the photo.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu (52) announced the names of the victims of the attack. It also reported Monday morning that a suspicious person had been arrested. This is a middle-aged woman. There are said to be ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK. (dzc)

* Names known