ISIL Behind Terrorist Bombing in Istanbul
The assailant, identified by Ala as 24-year-old Mehmet Ozturk, detonated an explosive device on the crowded Istiklal shopping street, killing at least five people.
"It has been established that he is a member of Daesh," Ala said in a media briefing on Sunday, adding that five arrests have so far been made in connection with the blast.
Born in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep, Ozturk had had no criminal record and was identified by his DNA, Ala noted, Press TV reported.
He further said that Ankara is re-evaluating every security measure in "every dimension,” and will step up cooperation with other countries in order to curb terrorism.
Turkey is itself suspected of actively training and arming Takfiri militants and buying smuggled oil from Daesh, which is wreaking havoc in Iraq and Syria.
Last month, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said Daesh recruiters have supposedly formed a network in the Turkish city of Antalya for foreign militants from the former Soviet Union.
Russia also released satellite images last year, showing long lines of trucks carrying oil from Syria’s Daesh-controlled parts into Turkey.
Turkey’s national Intelligence Organization (MIT) is also accused of helping Daesh militants cross the border into Syria.
