Investigation into Taksim terrorist attack continues

As officials continue trying to identify the culprit in Sunday's suicide bombing in Istanbul, Interior Minister Besir Atalay yesterday said they will announce their findings once they are definite. After meeting with Istanbul Police Chief Huseyin Capkin to discuss the attack, which injured 32, Atalay told reporters that no one has been detained over the attack, and cautioned against jumping to conclusions. "We have some information in our hands," he said. "We'll share it with you as soon as we reach a definite conclusion. We don't want to release premature information. I know you want to find out the identity of the attacker and the terrorist group behind the attack. I cannot and will not make a statement on this issue for now." Stating that he was briefed about the attack by the counterterrorism and intelligence departments, Atalay said the injured are not in critical condition. Though the terrorist PKK as well as other groups have set off bombs in Istanbul in the past, no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. Sunday was the last day of a unilateral so-called cease-fire by the PKK. The Firat News Agency, a PKK mouthpiece, reported yesterday that the group denies responsibility for the attack. Firat also said that the PKK has extended its "cease-fire" until next summer, when Turkey is set to hold general elections. However, there are still claims that the attack may be the work of a group within the PKK.