The Aftermath of the Istanbul Attack

“Though Turkish intelligence, security offices are doing their best 24/7 fighting with ISIS, it is not easy for any country, for any intelligence service, for any security measures to stop all attacks”, said one official in the Turkish prime minister’s office. “I thought it was odd and looked around”, she said. He would not provide details on the investigation, saying it would compromise those efforts. ISIS however, hasn’t claimed responsibility for the attack.

Officials initially said that at least eight Germans were among the dead in Tuesday’s explosion.

“This person was not being followed (as a wanted suspect)”.

“This person entered Turkey as an ordinary migrant”.

Turkey has been criticised internationally for being slow to react to the rise of IS, and its border has been a key crossing point for militants heading to fight for the extremists.

“We need to act decisively against it”.

With the bombing, the group risks a harsher crackdown from Turkish authorities, who have been criticized for not doing enough to prevent the country being used as a conduit for supplies and recruits.

It has become a target of the terror group, with two of last year’s bombings blamed on them.

Turkish authorities have also arrested three Russian men linked to the Islamic State in connection with the Istanbul suicide bombing. The state-run Anadolu Agency said 59 people were detained on Tuesday.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maziere was scheduled to arrive in Istanbul for talks with his Turkish counterpart and other Turkish officials to discuss the attack.

Germany has said there are no indications as yet that Tuesday’s suicide attacker in Istanbul deliberately targeted German citizens.

The Turkish minister assured foreigners visiting the country that the government has taken necessary measures to ensure security. Twenty-one people detained in Sanliurfa were also planning an attack at an unspecified location in Turkey. “I see no reason to avoid trips to Turkey”. Then, they said he was Saudi.

The Russians were detained in the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya, a popular destination for tourists. He pledged to fight the militant group until it no longer “remains a threat” to Turkey or the world.

The oft-porous border between Turkey and Syria has served as a major transit point for both foreign fighters traveling to Syria to join ISIS and fighters who are already in ISIS territory and want to get into Europe to stage attacks.

A Peruvian national was also injured in the blast. Regional authorities didn’t identify them and gave ages only for some, ranging from 51 to 75.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday: “the number of Germans killed has unfortunately risen to 10”. “Your pain is our pain” Vatan newspaper said.