Death toll rises to 44 in twin bombings in Istanbul

The death toll in the deadly Istanbul bomb attacks has risen to 44, Health Minister Recep Akdağ announced on Dec. 12.

Some 36 police officers were among the victims, Akdağ said.  

The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), an offshoot linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), claimed responsibility for the attack on Dec. 11.