Terrorist bombs killed 30 people and wounded 451 in two attacks in Istanbul, Turkey. The HSBC Bank headquarters and the British consulate were targets. Al Qaeda and the Turkish Islamic Brotherhood claimed credit for the attacks. The British consul general and 14 others died in the attack on the consulate. The consulate is located in the Beyoglu district. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Turkeys response to the attacks will be like a fist." Subsequent reports said security was raised to maximum height at the US and British embassies in Ankara. The bombing campaigns are aimed at destabilizing the Turkish government. Ergodan is a moderate Islamist who wants Turkey to remain an economic, cultural, and political bridge between Europe and the Middle East. (Austin Bay)