Thu, Mar 11, 2004 - Page 1 News List

Bombers raid Masonic lodge in Turkey

AP , ISTANBUL

Two attackers stormed a Masonic lodge opening fire with automatic weapons and setting off explosions that killed one person and wounded five, officials said.

One of the attackers also died and one was injured in the assault late on Tuesday, which came months after four suicide bombings blamed on al-Qaeda killed dozens of people in Istanbul.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, said provincial Governor Muammer Guler.

"Two assailants shot the guard in his feet and raked the restaurant of the lodge with gunfire, then detonated bombs," Guler said. "One terrorist and one waiter were killed, the second terrorist is injured with his arm ripped off and his guts spilled out."

Police said the attackers strapped between eight and 10 homemade pipe bombs to their vests. One of the attackers blew himself up before entering the restaurant where about 40 people were dining, Guler said.

"Only those sitting at the front table were injured since the explosion occurred at the entrance of the restaurant," he said.

Yakup Yildirim, who rushed the scene to help the injured, said survivors told him that one of the attackers chanted Allahu Akbar (God is great) before he detonated the bomb -- which could indicate the attack was the responsibility of radical Islamic militants.

"Everyone was panicking, everyone was asking where their friends were," Yildirim said.

The severely injured attacker could be seen angrily chanting slogans as he was taken to hospital. He identified himself as Abdullah Islam, but Guler said police was still investigating whether it was his real name.

Police cordoned off the area in the residential Kartal district as ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene.

At least one person was reported in critical condition, doctors said.

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