The National quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Aaron Stein on ISIS attacks at the heart of Istanbul’s historic tourist center:
“Given the target and location of the explosion, it seems like an Islamic State attack. If this was an Islamic State member, the attack would be the first against foreign targets inside Turkey. The previous wave of attacks focused on Kurdish and leftist nationalist targets,” said Aaron Stein, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
“This attack is a nightmare for Turkey. Beyond the tragic loss of life, the blast will certainly impact tourism, and therefore negatively affect the Turkish economy,” he said.