A strong explosion, of unknown origin, occurred this Sunday afternoon in the busy shopping street of Istiqlal, in the heart of Istanbul, the Turkish press reported, quoted by AFP. Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya wrote on Twitter that four people had been killed and 38 injured.
“According to preliminary findings, four people lost their lives and 38 were injured in the Istiqlal street explosion. Our injured have been treated. We wish Allah’s mercy on those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery for the injured. Developments are will share with the public,” Ali Yerlikaya’s Twitter post read.
The explosion occurred shortly after 4:00 p.m. local time (1:00 p.m. in Lisbon) at a time when the crowd in the street, where locals and tourists are common, was especially dense.
According to the NTV television channel there are “at least between five and ten injured.” Since then, the area has been evacuated.
In the images of the moment of the explosion circulating on social networks, a crash can be heard, followed by flames and causing an immediate wave of panic among the crowd. Also, it is possible to see a huge dark crater and people lying on the ground.
News updated at 14:44
Source: TSF
