Turkey Ponders Aftermath of Blasts that Killed 38

A Turkish security expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, told BIRN that Saturday's twin blasts at a football stadium in Istanbul, killing at least 38 people, did not come as a surprise.

In a context of heightened security, political and ethnic tensions in recent months, terrorism may seem as the only option for groups that feel threatened by government oppression, he said.

"Terror seems the only solution for some small groups because of the lack of political communication and dialogue," he told BIRN.

"The only way to solve the terror issue in Turkey is by providing political representation to all groups in parliament and having a functioning democracy. Ending the wars in Syria and Iraq is of the utmost importance as well," he added.

The two bombs, a car packed with 300kg of explosives and a suicide bomb came in quick succession and struck at about 10.30pm in the city's Besiktas neighbourhood.

Some officials have blamed Kurdish militants for the attacks. In a statement on its website, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, or TAK, said two of its members had sacrificed their lives in the  attacks. The TAK is seen as linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, PKK.

Experts said it was telling that the attack came only one day after the ruling AKP party proposed a plan to parliament to hold a referendum by next May.

The referendum would ask the country to constitutional changes that would further expand the powers of the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Presidential and parliamentary polls would then be held together in 2019.

The constitutional change would need the support of at least 330 out of 550 deputies in parliament. It is expected to pass since Erdogan's AKP has 316 seats in...