Suicide attacks kill 27 in Turkey

ISTANBUL — Suspected al Qaeda suicide bombers, using trucks loaded with explosives, struck the British Consulate and a British bank yesterday, killing at least 27 and wounding nearly 450 — the second attack here in less than a week linked to the top Islamist terrorist network.

The strike, coming as President Bush met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London, marked a further escalation of al Qaeda’s campaign against Muslim nations with close ties to the United States and other Western nations. Besides Turkey, Saudi Arabia has been attacked by terrorists recently.

In twin explosions 10 minutes apart, the bombers detonated trucks laden with explosives at the London-based HSBC bank and at the consulate.

British Consul-General Roger Short was killed in the consulate attack, which destroyed an office annex at the British diplomatic outpost. The other explosion gutted the mirrored-glass facade of the bank’s 18-story skyscraper.

The attacks, just five days after twin suicide bombings at two Istanbul synagogues killed 23 and injured hundreds, marked the worst terrorist bombings in the Muslim nation’s history.

Turkey put its military on the highest alert and briefly deployed army troops in the streets.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to crush the terrorists and condemned the perpetrators for carrying out the attacks during the last week of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

“Turkey will be like a fist,” Mr. Erdogan vowed during a hastily arranged press conference.

In London, Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush condemned the attacks as an attempt to intimidate and demoralize the free nations of the world.

“They’re not going to succeed,” Mr. Bush said in an appearance with Mr. Blair, the staunchest U.S. ally in the global war on terror.

Mr. Bush expressed grief over the attacks. “Great Britain and America and other free nations are united … in our determination to fight and defeat this evil wherever it is found.”

Mr. Blair told the London news conference that the “terrorist outrage” showed that democracy was fighting a war against evil.

Late yesterday, Britain said it had new information that further attacks might be attempted and warned its nationals to stay away from major cities in Turkey.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the strikes bore “all the hallmarks of the international terrorism operations practiced by al Qaeda and associated organizations.”

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