Turkey arrests one over Istanbul German tourists attack

Turkey said on Wednesday it had arrested one person in connection with a deadly suicide bombing that ripped through the historic heart of Istanbul, killing 10 German tourists and raising alarm over security in the country.

Ankara has said that on Tuesday’s attack was carried out by a 28-year-old Syrian who belonged to the Islamic State (IS) group and had recently entered Turkey from Syria. One person was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the bloodshed, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said on Wednesday, without explaining the suspect’s role in the strike.

Turkish security forces over the last two days rounded up 68 suspected IS members across the country, state media said, but it was not clear if any of them were directly connected to the Istanbul bombing.

“The investigation is continuing in a very intensive way,” Ala told a news conference in Istanbul alongside German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere.

The foreign ministry in Berlin said Wednesday all 10 of those killed in the attack were German. But de Maiziere said there was “no indication” the attack specifically targeted Germans, saying there was no need to cancel travel plans.

“It was an attack against humanity,” he said. “I see no reason to refrain from trips to Turkey.” But the German foreign ministry has advised its nationals to keep away from large groups in public places and tourist attractions in Istanbul. German tourism giant TUI said customers who had booked trips to Istanbul can switch destination without paying a penalty.