Two cars carrying suicide bombers attacked two Jewish synagogues almost simultaneously on Saturday, resulting in at least 16 deaths and 80 injuries. Israel condemned the bombings. One of the explosions occurred near the 'Neshalom' synagogue in central Istanbul during Saturday worship services. The second explosion happened around the same time outside the 'Beth Israel' synagogue in an upscale neighborhood called 'Sisli.' The Turkish news agency Anadolu reports that an extremist Islamic group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Neshalom synagogue had previously been attacked in 1986 by armed men believed to be Palestinians, killing 22 worshippers and injuring six. The Shiite group Hezbollah, supported by Iran, also targeted the same location in 1992, but that attack did not result in casualties. In Israel, the Foreign Minister described the bombings as a 'terrorist and criminal attack.' In Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, at least 23 people died and around 300 were injured in the almost simultaneous explosions of two bomb-laden cars outside the two synagogues. Turkish officials believe the coordinated attacks were the work of an international terrorist group like Al-Qaeda. The United States and other countries around the world condemned the attacks as horrific and despicable. Turkey has strong ties with Israel and the United States.
Suicide Bombing at Two Jewish Synagogues in Istanbul Leaves Dozens Dead and Injured - 2003-11-15
A coordinated suicide bombing at two Jewish synagogues in Istanbul resulted in at least 23 deaths and around 300 injuries. An extremist Islamic group claimed responsibility, and the attacks were condemned by Israel and the U.S. This incident highlights ongoing tensions and the threat of international terrorism.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Two suicide bombers attacked Jewish synagogues in Istanbul, resulting in at least 23 deaths and around 300 injuries. An extremist group claimed responsibility for the coordinated attacks.
- The attacks targeted the 'Neshalom' and 'Beth Israel' synagogues during worship services.
- The bombings were condemned by Israel, the U.S., and other countries as acts of terrorism.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Tensions between Israel and extremist groups have historically led to violence, particularly against Jewish targets. The rise of international terrorism has further complicated the security landscape.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%