Solved case
September 2001 Istanbul Bombing
A suicide bombing at a police checkpoint in Istanbul's Gümüşsuyu neighborhood on 10 September 2001 killed two police officers and an Australian tourist, hours before the September 11 attacks in the United States.

On 10 September 2001, at approximately 5:30 pm local time, a suicide attack was carried out at a police checkpoint in the Gümüşsuyu neighborhood of Beyoğlu, Istanbul. The attacker, identified as Uğur Bülbül, a member of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C), detonated explosive material at a checkpoint located on İnönü Street, between the Vakıf Leasing–National Education Publications building and a Chinese restaurant. The street connects the Gümüşsuyu area to Taksim Square, a central and heavily trafficked part of the city.
The blast killed two police officers at the scene. An Australian tourist who was passing by at the time was seriously injured in the explosion and died several days later, on 13 September 2001. The attacker also died in the blast. In addition to the fatalities, 17 police officers and 6 other people were wounded, with reporting indicating a total of 23 injured.
The attack occurred less than 24 hours before the September 11 attacks in the United States, a proximity in time that has been noted in retrospective accounts of the bombing.
The Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) is a group that has carried out other attacks in Turkey attributed to left-wing militant activity.
Key facts
- Victims
- On file
- Date
- 2001
- Location
- Gümüşsuyu, Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey
- Case status
- solved
Case timeline
2001-09-10
Suicide bomber Uğur Bülbül detonates explosive material at a police checkpoint on İnönü Street in the Gümüşsuyu neighborhood of Beyoğlu, Istanbul, killing two police officers and the attacker, and injuring others including an Australian tourist.
2001-09-13
The Australian tourist injured in the blast dies from injuries sustained in the attack.
Best coverage
No coverage has been attached to this file yet.
People
Uğur Bülbül
CHARGEDIdentified as the suicide bomber and member of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C); died in the attack. No formal charge or conviction is documented as he did not survive the bombing.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- A suicide bombing at a police checkpoint in Istanbul's Gümüşsuyu neighborhood on 10 September 2001 killed two police officers and an Australian tourist, hours before the September 11 attacks in the United States.
- Where did the bombing happen?
- Gümüşsuyu, Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey.
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: solved.
Sources
- ENCYCLOPEDICSeptember 2001 Istanbul bombingWikipedia · 2026-07-07
- PRESSContemporaneous coverage — webarsiv.hurriyet.com.trwebarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr · 2026-07-07
- PRESSContemporaneous coverage — radikal.com.trradikal.com.tr · 2026-07-07
Record history
- First published
- JUL 07, 2026
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