An explosion that rocked the busy pedestrian street in Central Istanbul has killed at least 8 people, leaving 81 others wounded.
According to reports on Sunday, ambulances raced to the scene on the packed Istiklal Avenue, which the Police had quickly cordoned off.
The area in the Beyoglu district of Turkey’s largest city, had been crowded as usual at the weekend with shoppers, tourists and families.
The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a televised press conference before departing to the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Indonesia, said the explosion is a “treacherous attack” and pledged that its perpetrators will be punished.
He said; “Our people can rest assured that the culprits behind the attack will be punished as they deserve,” he said at a press conference, adding that initial information suggested “a woman played a part” in it.’’
“It would be wrong to say this is undoubtedly a terrorist attack, but the initial developments and initial intelligence from my governor is that it smells like terrorism.”