Pedestrian street Istiklal
Explosion in Istanbul – at least four people killed and 38 injured
Police vehicles and ambulances stand at the scene of an explosion on the popular Istiklal pedestrian street.
© Francisco Seco / DPA
A heavy explosion occurred in downtown Istanbul in the afternoon. The Istanbul governor announced that there were injuries and deaths. The cause of the detonation is not yet known.
City officials have been urged to avoid the area after an explosion on Istanbul’s famous shopping street, Istiklal. Surrounding streets should also be kept free of traffic, the broadcaster TRT reported, citing authorities on Sunday. At least four people were killed and 38 injured in the explosion on Istanbul’s Istiklal shopping street. That tweeted the governor of the Turkish metropolis, Ali Yerlikaya, on Sunday.
The “daily News” reports that Turkish media are speculating about two possible perpetrators of a possible attack. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) or Gülen supporters are suspected. In the meantime, the Turkish broadcasting authority Rtük has imposed a temporary news ban on media. Reports on the explosion should be avoided In order to avoid fear and panic among the population, it said in the letter from Sunday.The broadcasters CNN Türk and TRT then interrupted their reports on the explosion on the popular shopping street.
Istanbul rescue workers on duty, suspicious bag
According to Yerlikaya, the explosion happened at 4:20 p.m. local time. Rescue workers and the police are on site in large numbers, the state broadcaster TRT reported. A powerful bang is heard on recordings on online networks, followed by flames. The images also show a large, black crater and several people lying on the ground. The explosion immediately caused panic among visitors to the shopping street. The area was immediately evacuated. Video showing the moment of the explosion suggests a bomb exploded in an abandoned bag.
Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, was the target of a bloody campaign of attacks in 2015 and 2016, to which the jihadist militia Islamic State claimed responsibility. One of the attacks was also carried out on Istiklal Street.
This article will be continuously updated.