A Syrian woman has been detained as a suspect in the Turkey explosion that left six dead and dozens wounded.
A bomb went off in the heart of Istanbul Nov. 13, on a street packed with pedestrians. Turkish police reported Nov. 14 they have detained a Syrian woman who confessed to planting the bomb, according to an AP News report.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life caused by the explosion in Istanbul today. We extend our sincerest condolences to the families of the victims and the Turkish people. The United States stands united with our Turkish allies,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken posted on Twitter Nov. 13.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a statement condemning the "act of violence."
"Our thoughts are with those who were injured and our deepest condolences go to those who lost loved ones," Jean-Pierre said in the statement. "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our NATO Ally Turkiye in countering terrorism."
A bomb went off on Istiklal Avenue killing six people and leaving 81 people hospitalized, AP News reported Nov. 13. French President Emmanuel Macron noted the attack in Istanbul happened exactly seven years after Islamic State extremists killed 130 people at Paris cafes, the Bataclan theater and France's national stadium.
"On such a symbolic day for our nation, as we are thinking of the victims who fell Nov. 13, 2015, the Turkish people were hit by an attack on their heart, Istanbul," Macron said, according to AP News. "To the Turks: We share your pain. We stand at your side in the fight against terrorism.”
The next day, Turkish police announced they detained a Syrian woman who confessed to planting the bomb on Istiklal Avenue, AP News reported. Though she has suspected links to Kurdish militants, they have strongly denied any links to the bombing.
The suspect told police during her interrogation that she was trained by the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Syrian Kurdish group Democratic Union Party to be a "special intelligence officer." The Kurdish Workers Party denied involvement, according to AP News.
Meanwhile, the People's Defense Units, the main Kurdish militia group in Syria, denied any links and instead claimed the Turkish president was trying to gather international support to launch a new incursion into northern Syria. According to the Istanbul Police Department, videos from around 1,200 security cameras were reviewed and raids were conducted at 21 locations. AP News reported at least 46 other people have also been detained for questioning.
