Roundup: Turkey suffers from flawed policies on tackling terror threats

The deadly suicide bombing attack in Istanbul by a suspected Islamic State (IS) militant has spelled out the serious shortcomings Turkey faces in countering terror threats.

Turkish security analysts are worried that the national security has been in jeopardy by radical religious groups as well as the Kurdish militancy and more attacks may come if no measures are taken by the government.

"Turkey has never gone through a period as risky as today," Sedat Laciner, president of the Social and Political Research Institute, said.

On Sunday, a Turkish government official confirmed that Mehmet Ozturk, 24-year old Turkish national from the southeastern province of Gaziantep, was the suicide bomber that killed four foreign tourists and injuring 37. He was believed to be affiliated with the IS.

In a televised speech, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said a DNA test confirmed the identity of the bomber. Local media reported that bomber's identity was tested positive against the samples of blood, hair and saliva obtained from the suspect's father, Nahsen Ozturk.

"Security lapses and intelligence failures have paved the way for the terror strike in Istanbul," Laciner believes.

He emphasized that Turkey should revise its foreign policy and anti-terror campaign strategy.

Turkey has been a staunch supporter of rebel groups in Syria since 2011 and considers Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime as "illegitimate."

Turkey, a partner country in the U.S.-led coalition against IS, has been criticized in recent years for not cracking down hard on logistics and the transfer of foreign fighters to the radical groups including the IS in Syria.

Turkey's main opposition republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu echoed similar concerns, saying that Turkey must repair its troubled ties with Russia, Syria, Israel, Egypt and Iran.

"If your neighbor with which you have the longest border (Syria) turned into Afghanistan, then you will turn into Pakistan, which it has happened already," he explained.

"This foreign policy must be revised 180 degree," he stressed.

QUESTIONS ON BACKGROUND OF THE BOMBER

On Sunday, the Turkish interior minister also claimed that the suspected bomber had no record in the police and gendarmerie.

However, the suspect's name was floated back in October when local media reported that four IS suspects entered into Turkey from Syria and police has been on the lookout for them.

The three were identified as Turkish nationals while the fourth was said to be a foreigner.

The suspect's father, who was detained by police for questioning along with the bomber's brothers and the mother, said he filed a missing person report with the police in 2013 when Ozturk was believed to have joined the IS.

Bayram Kaya, the security expert, said the interior minister must have been misled, given the fact that the bomber had a record in police files on both IS militancy and missing person cases.

"Apparently, somebody has dropped the ball on his case, leading to a major failure to prevent the deadly attack," he noted.

Five people have been detained so far in connection to the suicide blast in Balo Street, off the Istiklal Avenue which is one of the busiest attraction centers of Istanbul with its rich cultural and historical heritage as well as shopping center.

Three of the foreigners who lost their lives in the attack were Israelis, two also holding the U.S. nationality. The fourth victim was Iranian.

Sunday's attack in Istanbul appeared similar to a January suicide bombing attack blamed on the IS that killed 11 German tourists.

Turkey has also been hit recently by the terror acts of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), listed as terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

The vehicle bombing attack on March 13 by the PKK affiliate group killed 37 in the heart of the Turkish capital.

POLICE DEMORALIZED

Parliamentary deputy Baris Yarkadas lamented that the IS and PKK are taking turns in attacking civilians in Turkey, accusing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government of politicizing the police force with partisan approach.

"The government has removed the organized technical surveillance teams that were composed of 41 highly-trained professionals who were tracking and monitoring terrorists," he explained.

"Unfortunately, none of them is on the job today," Yarkadas added.

Tens of thousands of police officers including veteran chiefs have been purged, dismissed or reassigned in Turkey since December 2013 when the investigations by the police uncovered corruption network that implicated senior government officials.

The main opposition CHP has already submitted a proposal to the government asking the appointments to the police and intelligence units to be made on a merit basis rather than partisan and ideological motives. Endit