A powerful explosion rocked the busy pedestrian Istiklal Street in the center of Istanbul on Sunday afternoon killing at least six people and injuring 53 others.
Istiklal Avenue is popular among local and foreign tourists lined with shops and restaurants.
The chief prosecutor’s office in Istanbul has appointed five prosecutors to investigate the deadly blast.
The first official statement was made by the governor of Istanbul, Ali Yerlikaya, reports Turkish newspaper yenisafak.
Yerlikaya said that there were victims and injured. He noted that an official statement will be made when everything clears up. RTÜK President Shaheen said:
“We have received news of the explosion in Taksim. We are closely following developments. Please do not rely on information from a dubious source, let’s have information from reliable sources. Let’s not spread false information.
The Istanbul Prosecutor General’s Office launched an investigation into the terrorist attack on the fact of the explosion. DHA correspondent Hasan Yildirim reported from the area of the tragedy:
“Civilians are being driven away from the scene. There was a strong explosion. After the incident became known, firefighters and ambulances went to the scene. There was an explosion in the building or on the street.”
The special services cordoned off the area, dozens of ambulances and police forces were sent there. The information is being specified.
Terrible footage of the tragedy appeared on the network, local residents captured them using their phones. They show people walking along a busy street, then a bright flash illuminates it, an explosion is heard, and they scatter in a panic.
UPDATE: Taksim Explosion #Turkey
• 4 killed, 38 injured: Governor
• Blast in shopping district ~4pm
• CCTV shows suspicious bag
• Internet disruptions reported
• Area sealed off, security on scene
• No official confirmation yet on source of explosion
