Turkish journalist Hadiya Levent said it has become clear that Ahlam al-Bashir, who is accused of carrying out the Istanbul attack, does not have Syrian citizenship, according to what has been revealed by various media outlets, who say there is a high possibility that she is Somali, according to according to the Turkish opposition newspaper Zaman.
Levent explained that she tried to verify this information, stating that she made the assumption that the attacker was from North Africa.
Levent added that there is controversy as to when the attacker arrived in Turkey via Afrin and whether the attacker had already crossed the border or not.
The Turkish newspaper quoted Levent as saying news was circulating that Turkish intelligence had launched a security campaign against Turkish-backed Syrian armed groups in Idlib and Afrin a day after the attack: “There was another news about the arrest of 17 people. from Turkish-backed groups in Afrin, and the group name Hamzat was mentioned.
Criminal investigation officers at the explosion site on Istiklal street Criminal investigation officers at the explosion site on Istiklal street
And Levent claimed that armed clashes broke out between Turkish-backed groups, saying: “They have taken control of Afrin. In view of all this, it is clear that northern Syria has long been out of control. Under these conditions, anyone can cross the region. The leader of the organization has been arrested. Italian criminal in Idlib, it turns out he crossed over from Turkey.”
The explosion took place on Sunday afternoon on the Istiklal pedestrian street in Istanbul’s central Beyoglu district. Six people were killed, 81 more were injured, and the country’s authorities considered the incident a terrorist attack.
Al-Bashir, who left the place in a taxi after the bombing, was arrested and confessed to having links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
An NTV report on the matter states: “Terrorist Ahlam al-Bashir, who carried out a terrorist attack organized by the PKK and YPG terrorist organization in Beyoglu, reported important information in Istanbul. The terrorist said that during the attack she was not alone. Attack. Someone was watching her from behind and she was ordered to blow up from the scene.”
