[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] The suicide bombing attack shortly before 11:00AM Saturday morning 9 Adar-II took place on Istanbul’s main pedestrian shopping street. Sky News reports “outside a local government office on Istiklal Caddesi” Street and Israeli sources explain that while intelligence community officials are not ruling out the possibility, it remains uncertain if the attack was targeting the Israeli group.

The Israelis killed and wounded in the Shabbos morning attack were part of a culinary group visiting that country. It is the third suicide bombing attack in Turkey in less than a month, with the last being a week ago in Ankara which left 37 dead.

It is permitted to release the identity of one Israeli victim HY”D, Mrs. Simcha Dimri, 60, the mother of four from the southern city of Dimona. Her husband Avi is listed in moderate condition in a Turkish hospital.

Israeli agencies are working to have all of the Israeli wounded taken to one hospital. Zaka and MDA teams are heading to Istanbul on motzei Shabbos along with physicians and other medical professional as well as equipment permitting the transport home of the seriously wounded. The IDF also has military transport planes standing by in the event they are required in assisting bringing the victims home.

The Foreign Ministry situation room continues to remain in contact with Turkish government officials and agencies. Zaka is working to expedite the permits that will enable to bring home the dead for kvura in Eretz Yisrael.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)