ISTANBUL -- Turkey declared a national day of mourning and paid tribute to the dead Sunday after two bombings in Istanbul killed 38 people and wounded 155 others near a soccer stadium. The carnage was claimed by a Turkey-based Kurdish militant group.The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, or TAK, said two of its members had sacrificed their lives in the Saturday night attack that targeted security forces outside the Besiktas stadium shortly after the conclusion of a match.Two of our comrades were heroically martyred in the attack, according to a statement posted on TAKs website.It described the blasts as reprisal for state violence in the southeast and the ongoing imprisonment of Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. TAK is considered by authorities as a PKK offshoot.The twin car-and-suicide bombings near the stadium enraged top officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who vowed to hunt down the perpetrators. The attack was the latest large-scale assault to traumatize a nation confronting an array of security threats.Turkey is a NATO member and a partner in the U.S.-led war against the Islamic State group.The attack targeted police officers, killing 30 of them along with seven civilians and an unidentified person, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters. He said 13 people had been arrested in connection with the terrorist act.In an address at a funeral for the slain police officers before TAKs statement was released, a furious Soylu condemned Kurdish rebels and their allies in the West, referring to the PKK as animals.Have you accomplished anything beyond being the servants, pawns and hit men of certain dark forces, of your dark Western partners? he asked.Turkish officials didnt make any further comments after the TAK claim of responsibility was posted.The battle between the PKK and the Turkish state has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of citizens. Turkish officials frequently accuse the West of supporting the Kurdish insurgency and of interfering in Ankaras fight against the militants.Erdogan vowed his country would fight the curse of terrorism till the end after paying a visit to some of the wounded at Haseki Hospital in Istanbul.Hundreds of flag-carrying demonstrators marched along Istanbuls coastline toward the stadium at the heart of the blast area. Flags flew at half-staff across the country and at Turkeys foreign missions. Passers-by placed flowers on barriers surrounding the soccer stadium.The first and larger explosion took place about 10:30 p.m. Saturday after Besiktas beat Bursaspor 2-1 in the Turkish Super League. Erdogan said the attacks timing aimed to maximize the loss of life, but most fans had left before the detonation.Soylu said the first blast was caused by a passing vehicle that detonated in an area where police special forces were located at the stadium exit. A riot police bus appears to have been the target. Moments later, a person who had been stopped in nearby Macka Park committed suicide by triggering explosives, according to the minister.He said 136 people remained hospitalized Sunday after the attack, including 14 in intensive care.TAK claimed the Turkish people werent their target but warned no one should expect a comfortable life as long as the ruling party continues to torture the mothers of Kurdistan every day.Armed conflict between the Turkish state and Kurdish militants resumed in July 2015 after peace talks unraveled. While much of the violence has concentrated in the impoverished and pre-dominantly Kurdish southeast, it has also spread to other cities, including the capital, Ankara, where TAK has claimed February and March suicide bombings.Experts have determined that up to 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of explosives were used in the car bomb, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told CNN Turk.To the mournful sound of trumpets, funeral services were held at Istanbuls police headquarters for some of the slain officers. Their comrades solemnly carried the coffins, which were draped in the Turkish flag, as a sea of mourners wept around them.Erdogan presided over a security meeting after the funeral ceremony and hospital visit.Soccer fans proved their resilience by showing up to watch a game pitting Istanbuls Galatasaray and Gaziantepspor at a different stadium.What happened last night was extremely saddening but they need to know that Turkish people will not yield to such things, Galatasaray supporter Erkan Duman told The Associated Press. Its not like we will give up things, especially things we love, just because they want us to.Turkey has witnessed a spate of IS and Kurdish-linked attacks this year. Saturdays bombings were one of the bloodiest to hit Istanbul, a city at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, until recently a popular tourist destination.That changed after a series of IS-linked suicide bombings targeting tourists, including a sophisticated attack on the citys Ataturk Airport in June that killed 44 people and wounded scores of others. PKK-linked militants have claimed other deadly attacks in Ankara, Istanbul and areas in southeast Turkey.A state of emergency is in force following a failed July 15 coup attempt and the resulting government crackdown on alleged coup sympathizers has landed thousands in jail and forced tens of thousands of people from their jobs. Critics call the move a witch hunt.---Cinar Kiper, Ayse Wieting and Bulut Emiroglu contributed to this report. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Jimmy-Smith-Jersey/ . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Chris-Wormley-Jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Carl-Davis-Jersey/ . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Matt-Judon-Jersey/ . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Nick-Boyle-Jersey/ . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. HARTFORD, Conn. -- Geno Auriemma and his UConn Huskies keep rolling along.Katie Lou Samuelson scored eight of her 26 points during a key third-quarter run, and No. 1 UConn beat 12th-ranked Ohio State 82-63 on Monday night for the Huskies 85th consecutive victory.Were maximizing what we have right now, Auriemma said. Nov. 14 to Dec. 19, its a month and five days, were 10-0, beat some pretty good teams. ... So far so good.Napheesa Collier had 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Huskies (10-0), who are five games away from matching their NCAA record 90-game winning streak set from 2008-10.UConn led by six before opening the second half with a 15-7 spurt. Samuelson hit two 3-pointers during the run. The second made it 55-41.The Huskies also switched up their defense on Ohio State star Kelsey Mitchell, holding her to four points in the second half after she had 19 at the break. With Mitchell bottled up, the Buckeyes (9-4) couldnt get within single digits.We knew that it was going to be really difficult to guard them and we knew were not going to stay in the same defense the whole game and be able to do it, Auriemma said. Show them a little different look every now and then. (Mitchell) is impossible to guard. You saw that. No shot she wont take.Ohio State trailed 19-7 before scoring the final nine points of the first quarter, capped by Mitchells deep 3-pointer just before the buzzer.The Buckeyes were down 28-24 when UConn went on a 12-2 run capped by Colliers 3-point play that made it 40-26 with 2:22 left in the half. Mitchell then closed the half with eight straight to get the Buckeyes to 40-34 at the break.Mitchell only had eight points in the meeting between the teams last season, going 2 for 14 from the field.To their credit we came out of the locker room flat and they took control of the game, Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said.ddddddddddddBIG PICTUREOhio State: Linnae Harper scored four points in her second game for the Buckeyes after she became eligible. The guard transferred from Kentucky last year. ... Ohio State had 19 turnovers that UConn converted into 28 points.UConn: Starting point guard Saniya Chong is still sidelined with a concussion. She missed the Kansas State game as well. ... The Huskies have won all four meetings with the Buckeyes. ... Mondays game was the annual toy drive for the Huskies where they collect donations for Toys for Tots.SAGER STRONGAuriemma wore a slightly off-blue plaid jacket to honor Craig Sager, a longtime NBA sideline reporter who died last week following a battle with cancer. Auriemma got to know him while coaching USA Basketball to a gold medal in London.He was as into those games as any NBA playoff game. He knew the players and treated them the same as he would the best NBA players, Auriemma said. He didnt mail it in or pretend it wasnt important. I appreciated the interest he took in our players and our team. He had a way about him. He was so disarming.RUNNING THROUGH THE RANKSUConn has already beaten No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 3 Baylor, No. 7 Florida State, No. 16 Texas and DePaul, which was in the Top 25 when the teams met. The Huskies still have games left against No. 4 Maryland and No. 6 South Carolina.QUOTABLEWere not going to win them all, Auriemma said. Not going to win every single game for the rest of eternity.UP NEXTOhio State: The Buckeyes head home to face Winthrop on Wednesday before Big Ten play starts next week.UConn: The Huskies hit the road to face Nebraska on Wednesday. After that they play at No. 4 Maryland on Dec. 29. China Womens NFL Jerseys Stitched NFL Jerseys Wholesale Throwback Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys China NFL Gear Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping NFL Jerseys Outlet Wholesale Jerseys 2019 China NFL Jerseys ' ' '