Governor: There are deaths |
Explosion in Istanbul
Explosion in a pedestrian zone in Istanbul!
According to reports, there was a loud bang on Istiklal Street, which is a shopping street popular with both tourists and locals. Videos on Twitter show people running away while others are motionless on the ground. A destroyed plant pot can be seen in photos, around which injured people – and probably dead people – are lying.
Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said on Twitter that the explosion happened around 4:20 p.m. (local time, 1:20 p.m. CET). At the time, the pedestrian zone was particularly busy.
He also announced that people had also died. According to the broadcaster “CNN Türk” at least eleven people were injured.
Other footage online shows ambulances, fire engines and police at the scene. Social media users reported that the shops were closed and the road has since been closed. The reason for the explosion has not yet been determined.
In 2015 and 2016, Istanbul was the target of a bloody campaign of attacks to which the jihadist militia Islamic State claimed responsibility. One of the attacks was also carried out on Istiklal Street.
