Fire at Istanbul nightclub kills 29 and injures several others

Published: 02 April 2024 at 17:21

Health

A fire broke out at the Masquerade nightclub in Istanbul during renovation work, resulting in 29 deaths and multiple injuries. The victims were believed to be involved in the renovation. Five people, including club managers and renovation supervisors, were detained for questioning. The Istanbul Fire Department responded to the scene with fire engines and ambulances. Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu expressed condolences and emphasized safety inspections of the building.

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Gunmen open fire during campaign event for municipal elections in Istanbul

Gunmen opened fire at a campaign event for upcoming municipal elections in Istanbul, critically wounding one person. The attack took place as Aziz Yeniay, a candidate for mayor, was visiting an association. A 32-year-old woman was critically wounded and the attackers escaped. Police are reviewing security camera footage and investigating the incident. The ruling AKP party hopes to retake crucial cities and districts it lost to the opposition Republican Peoples Party five years ago in the upcoming elections.

2003 Istanbul bombings (Wikipedia)

The 2003 Istanbul bombings were a series of suicide attacks carried out with trucks fitted with bombs detonated at four different locations in Istanbul, Turkey on 15 and 20 November 2003.On 15 November, two truck bombs were detonated, one in front of the Bet Israel Synagogue in Şişli at around 9:30 a.m. local time (UTC+2.00) and another in front of the Neve Shalom Synagogue in Beyoğlu at around 9:34 a.m. As a result of these bombings, 28 people died, included the attackers, and more than 300 people were wounded. Five days after the first attacks, on 20 November, two different attacks were perpetrated against the British Consulate General at around 10:55 a.m. and the HSBC General Headquarters in Beşiktaş at around 11:00 a.m., again using truck bombs. In the second round of attacks, 31 people lost their lives and more than 450 were injured. In total, 59 people died, including the four suicide bombers, and more than 750 were wounded in the bombings.Investigations launched in the wake of the attacks determined that Al-Qaeda had orchestrated the bombings. The criminal case that began with 69 defendants and, with additions, included 76 defendants in February 2004 regarding the attacks concluded in April 2007 with the sentencing of 49 defendants, of whom seven were sentenced to life in prison, to various periods of incarceration. Some of the figures allegedly from the upper echelons of the militant organization fled to Iraq after the attacks and died there, while a portion were captured by security forces. After a retrial held because the Court of Cassation reversed some of the verdicts delivered in the initial trial, 16 defendants were not sentenced to prison.

Trial of Ekrem İmamoğlu (Wikipedia)

The Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu was put on trial for having insulted a public official. He was accused of calling the ones who canceled the Istanbul mayoral election of March 2019 "fools". The first hearing was in January 2022 and in December 2022 he was sentenced to 2 years, 7 months, and 15 days imprisonment and given a political ban in accordance with Article 53 of the Turkish Criminal Code. İmamoğlu has appealed the verdict, and his ban from politics does not apply as long as he is pending trial.

Two attackers killed in attempted assault at Istanbul courthouse

Two attackers, a man and a woman, were killed in an attempted assault at the main courthouse in Istanbul. The attackers were members of the Revolutionary Peoples Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), a Marxist-Leninist armed group. Six people, including three police officers, were injured in the attack. The incident took place at the Caglayan Courthouse and is being investigated by Turkish authorities. The DHKP-C has previously carried out attacks in Turkey, including a hostage situation and killing of a prosecutor at the same courthouse in 2015.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces political setback in local elections

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's long-ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered defeat in local elections, with the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) winning in major cities like Istanbul. Erdogan's political career started with success as mayor of Istanbul, where he implemented construction projects and public works that appealed to the working classes. Ekrem Imamoglu, the current CHP mayor of Istanbul, symbolizes a new generation of Turkish politicians and won against a strong AKP campaign, framing his victory as a pushback against electoral autocracies like Erdogan's regime.

Local elections in Istanbul: Voters decide who will lead the metropolis

In Istanbul, voters are deciding the leadership for the next five years in local elections held across Turkey, with a focus on the battle to win Istanbul, the country's largest city. The city, known for its minaret-punctured skyline and bustling waterways, features landmarks like the Suleymaniye Mosque and Hagia Sophia. The backstreets offer a glimpse into daily life with aromas of fresh bread and spices, the local spirit raki, and the presence of stray cats, attracting both residents and tourists.