Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ISTANBUL (AP) — The latest on the investigation into the explosion in the historic center of Istanbul. All times local.
7:10 p.m.
Turkey's prime minister says authorities have detained four more suspects as part of the investigation into the suicide bombing in Istanbul that killed 10 Germans.
Ahmet Davutoglu reiterated Wednesday that the attack was linked to the Islamic State group. A total of five people have been detained in connection with the blast investigation.
Earlier, Turkey's interior minister had announced the arrest of another person.
___
4:35 p.m.
Germany's foreign minister says his country won't make any further immediate changes to its travel advice for Turkey but could do so in light of the investigation into Tuesday's Istanbul bombing.
The Foreign Ministry advised Germans after the attack to avoid crowds in public places and outside tourist sites in Istanbul. Ten Germans were killed in the bombing.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Wednesday travel advice will be adjusted "when we know more about the background to the crime, particularly the background of the perpetrator" and what his motive was. Steinmeier and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said there's no indication Germans were targeted specifically.
De Maiziere said he sees "no reason to refrain from traveling to Turkey" and no reason for people already there to break off their trips.
___
4:25 p.m.
Germany has sent a team of specialist investigators to Istanbul following Tuesday's blast in which 10 Germans were killed.
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry says the investigators flew to the Turkish metropolis Wednesday.
Johannes Dimroth said the specialists from Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office, which is comparable to the FBI, would support Turkish authorities investigating the attack.
Asked whether Germany believes that the Islamic State group is responsible for the attack, he said it was "too early to engage in wild speculation."
___
2:10 p.m.
The number of Germans killed in the Istanbul suicide bombing has risen to 10.
Officials initially said that at least eight Germans were among the dead in Tuesday's explosion.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday: "the number of Germans killed has unfortunately risen to 10." Information released by regional authorities shows that the victims came from across Germany and included two couples.
___
1:20 p.m.
Germany's interior minister says there are no indications so far that Germans were specifically targeted in the attack in Istanbul.
Germany has taken a noncombat role in the international military effort against the Islamic State group, stationing reconnaissance planes at an air base in Turkey. They flew their first missions last week.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said during a visit to Istanbul Wednesday: "According to the investigations so far, there are no indications that the attack was directed specifically against Germans, and so there can't be a connection to our contribution to the fight against international terrorism."
Top German and Turkish officials already were scheduled to meet in Berlin next week to discuss Europe's migrant crisis. De Maiziere said those talks will also address "the determined fight against terrorism."
___
12:55 p.m.
Pope Francis has invited the faithful to pray for the victims of a suicide bombing in Istanbul that killed 10 foreigners, mostly German tourists.
Francis, during his weekly audience Wednesday, asked God to "give eternal peace to the dead, comfort to the relatives, determined solidarity to the entire society and to convert the hearts of the violent." About 6,000 faithful packed the Paul VI audience hall.
The attack in the heart of Istanbul's historic district on Tuesday was the latest by Islamic extremists targeting Westerners.
___
12:30 p.m.
Turkey's interior minister says one person has been detained in connection with the suicide bombing in Istanbul which killed 10 foreigners, most of them German tourists.
Efkan Ala said during a news conference with his German counterpart that the suspect was detained late Tuesday. He didn't provide further details.
Turkish media reports said police had raided a home in an affluent neighborhood of Istanbul, detaining one woman suspected of having links to the Islamic State group.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
