Two Explosions in Izmir: One Dead, Nine Injured

Yesterday (2 October), two bombs exploded in the town of Sirinyer, district of Buca, in the Aegean province of Izmir.

The first occured in the morning, in front of a shopping centre, when 52-year-old cleaner Mustafa Özsefik threw a package into a bin. He lost his arm and leg in the ensuing explosion.

Another cleaner working for the same company, aged 41, was injured.

First bomb could have killed many

An eye witness saw the cleaner sweeping in front of a bus stop and then walking away from the stop with his wheely bin. "Then the explosion happened. At first I thought a bus tire had burst. But then I turned and saw the cleaner lying on the ground and, I think, his arm had been ripped off. If it had exploded at the bus stop, there were many people there."

One dead in second explosion

Another explosion took place later in the day, but near the site of the first explosion. 29-year old Atilla Eraslan, who worked in a carpet shop, tried to move a motorbike which had been parked in front of the shop. A bomb, which had been deposited in a package on the backseat of the bike exploded and Eraslan was killed. Others were injured, but not seriously.

It seems that the plastic explosives, which had timers, were placed at the sites at night. The motorbike involved had been stolen.

Whe two more suspicious packages were found in the area, security precautions were increased. (NZ/AG)