Istanbul rocked by suicide bomb
Five people were killed Saturday in a suicide bombing on Istiklal boulevard, a main high street in the centre of Istanbul just off Taksim Square, the second attack to rock Turkey this week.
The five fatalities include the bomber. At least 36 people were wounded in the explosion near a shopping area, said Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu. Among the injured in the blast in Turkey’s largest city and economic hub were 12 foreigners, the Health Ministry said. Israeli media reported three Israelis were injured. Seven people were listed in serious condition.
Emergency services were rushed to the area and ambulances were ferrying people to hospital. The street was largely closed down by police following the attack just before 11 am (0900 GMT). The street is usually teeming with locals and tourists at its busiest times in the evening, although the morning hours on the weekend often see less shoppers.
The blast comes as Turkey is on edge, following a massive car bombing in Ankara on March 13 which killed 37 people. That attack was claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), a splinter group of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). A similar attack last month in the capital left 30 dead and was also claimed by TAK.