Crime scene in Istanbul 2016: The attackers blew themselves up in a German tour group
Photo: MURAD SEZER / REUTERS
More than five years after the attack in Istanbul's old town with twelve dead Germans, a Turkish court of appeal has issued a new judgment.
The state news agency Anadolu reported that four backers were sentenced to life and more than 300 years in prison for aiding and abetting intentional homicide, attempted murder and violating the constitution.
On January 12, 2016, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the midst of a German tour group in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul's old town.
He tore twelve Germans to their deaths, 16 other people were injured.
The Islamic State (IS) jihadist militia was suspected to be behind the attack, but the extremist group did not admit to the crime itself.
The defendants also denied their involvement.
26 people charged - 18 acquitted
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As early as 2018, three of the now defendants were originally convicted.
An appeals court had overturned the judgment, among other things because it was considered too mild.
The decision was also justified with procedural deficiencies.
For example, a defendant did not have a lawyer.
In the new trial, a total of 26 people were charged, according to the report, some of them were connected to the trial via video.
18 other defendants were acquitted for lack of evidence.
Three defendants were on the run.
An earlier judgment against a defendant for membership in a terrorist organization remained.
ime / dpa / AFP
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