ISTANBUL — 2003 · Major Tragedy

2003 Istanbul Bombings

SolvedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On 15 November 2003, vehicle bombs struck the Beth Israel synagogue in Şişli and the Neve Shalom synagogue in Beyoğlu; on 20 November, the British Consulate-General and the HSBC headquarters in Levent were attacked. Fifty-seven people, including the attackers, were killed and more than 750 injured. Investigators attributed the attacks to al-Qaeda's Turkish cell. The trial, opened in February 2004, ended in 2007 with 48 defendants convicted, seven of them to aggravated life imprisonment. A retrial after the Court of Cassation partly overturned the verdict concluded in 2013.

Date: 2003
Place: Beyoğlu / Şişli / Levent, Istanbul
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Solved
Coordinates: 41.0269, 28.9725 ↗

Timeline of Events

15 November 2003The Beth Israel and Neve Shalom synagogues were attacked.
20 November 2003The British Consulate and HSBC headquarters were targeted.
February 2004A trial with dozens of defendants opened.

April 200748 defendants were convicted, seven to aggravated life.
April 2013A retrial after partial reversal concluded.

Sources

Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.