2010/11/01 Istanbul
Taksim
Hotel room
This morning I was working in my hotel room.
Around 10 a.m. I heard a loud explosion. It could have been a bomb, but I wasn’t sure.
After Baghdad I got used to explosions.
It turned out that a suicide bomber had detonated himself on Taksim Square.
For that reason all festival events were canceled today.
I had a pleasant lunch at the Çırağan Palace Kempinski.
Other writers were adamant that the events should not have been canceled.
But if you accept the surrealism of a literary festival you should accept that cancellation is part of the surrealism.
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4 comments 
Initial news reports (www.hurriyetdailynews.com) say 32 people injured, including 15 policemen. Of the injured, 23 people were treated in hospitals and sent home the same day. None of the injured people face a life-threatening risk.
Police said the male bomber tried but failed to get into a parked police van and detonated the bomb just outside the vehicle.
Only the suicide bomber died.
Police said the male bomber tried but failed to get into a parked police van and detonated the bomb just outside the vehicle.
Only the suicide bomber died.
Is bombing yourself really the best way to kill a lot of people? There has to be a more prolific way of causing a lot of deaths.
@L David
I think this is more about self-sacrifice (and maybe about eliminating the main witness, the actor ?).
I think this is more about self-sacrifice (and maybe about eliminating the main witness, the actor ?).
Bernard
I think you can compare it with Harakiri, an expression of your utmost sincerity.[ Add comment ]
