Al-Qaida blamed as suicide bombers kill 27 in Istanbul

SUSPECTED al-Qaida suicide bombers targeted British interests in Istanbul yesterday, killing at least 27 people including the British consul, and leaving more than 450 injured in twin attacks.

The bombers, driving trucks packed with explosives, struck at the British consulate and London-based HSBC bank in the heart of the Turkish city.

The attacks came only days after a bloody terrorist strike on Istanbul synagogues. The worst terror bombings in Turkey's history coincided with US President George W Bush's trip to Britain and were blamed on Osama bin Laden's terror group.