An explosion rocked a busy pedestrian street in Istanbul on Sunday, leaving six dead and multiple people wounded. At least six people died and 81 others were injured after an explosion rocked Turkey’s Istanbul on Sunday. 6 dead, 81 injured as explosion rocks Turkey’s Istanbul. The blast took place on a busy pedestrian street in central Istanbul’s Taksim area, leaving multiple people wounded.
The Interior Minister of Turkey, Suleyman Soylu, said police have arrested a suspect. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the blast a “treacherous attack” and said its perpetrators would be punished, Associated Press reported. He did not say who was behind the attack but said it had the “smell of terror” without offering details and also adding that was not certain yet.
The president said investigations were ongoing by the police and the governor’s office, including reviewing footage of the area, the news agency reported. Erdogan said six people were killed. Vice President Fuat Oktay later updated the wounded toll to 81, with two in serious condition, and also said it appeared to be a “terrorist attack”.State media showed videos of ambulances and police headed to the scene on Istanbul’s Istiklal Street following the blast.
A strong explosion was heard Sunday in a busy area in the heart of Istanbul, Turkish media reported, saying that people had been injured. The explosion occurred shortly after 4:00 pm (1300 GMT), reported the television channel NTV. Videos shared on social media show people walking on the busy street when the explosion took place. A loud blast can be heard, following which the pedestrians are seen running for cover. A CCTV footage shows pedestrians walking by when an explosion rocked the busy street.
“Today, at around 16.20, an explosion occurred in Taksim Istiklal Street in our Beyoglu district. Our police, health, fire and AFAD teams were sent to the scene. There are casualties and injuries. Developments will be shared with the public,” said Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya.
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INDIA CONDOLES LOSS OF LIVES IN TURKEY
Arindam Bagchi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, condoled the loss of lives in Istanbul in Sunday’s attack. “India conveys its deepest condolences to the Government and people of Turkey on the tragic loss of lives in the blast that took place in Istanbul today. Our sympathies are also with those who sustained injuries. We wish them a speedy recovery,” the MEA spokesperson tweeted.
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