US Politics | Istanbul explosion: Six dead and 81 injured after ‘female suicide bomber’ targets packed shopping street in city centre
AT LEAST six people have been killed and 81 injured after a suspected female suicide bomber targeted a packed shopping street in Istanbul. The massive explosion tore through the centre of the Turkish city shortly before 4.30pm local time on Sunday. 
TwitterAt least six people have been killed in a feared suicide bombing in Istanbul, Turkey '/ ' 
Bodies seen scattered on the floor following the blast 
ReutersBodies of unidentified people lay on the ground after the explosion '/ ' A huge emergency response was scrambled to the site of the blast on Istiklal Street near central Istanbul's Taksim Square. Horror footage showed bodies strewn across the ground. Turkey's Vice-President Fuat Oktay said the blast was thought to be a terrorist attack carried out by a woman. Oktay confirmed at least six people died in the explosion and 81 were hurt. READ MORE WORLD NEWS 
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BRING THEM HOME Moment wives of Russian troops confront generals after 'massacre' It's feared casualty numbers will increase overnight. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said those responsible would be punished. Speaking at a news conference, he condemned the ...vile attack... and said ...the smell of terror... was in the air. Erdogan said Turkey would ...not bow down to terrorism.... Most read in US News NEW DEVELOPMENT Major update in missing boy's case as clue leads cops to search home AIR DISASTER Horror moment 2 planes crash midair at Dallas airshow as crew of 6 feared dead DON NOT DISTURB First glimpse pics of tired Trump revealed on day of Tiffany's wedding NO MISS-TAKE I'm a hot teacher and my fans wish I taught them when they were in school 'GOOD FORTUNE' 'Cult' leader 'boasted about role in Meghan Markle & Prince Harry marriage' GLAM EVENT Donald walks daughter down the aisle as she marries Michael Boulos ...Our people can rest assured that the culprits behind the attack will be punished as they deserve,... he said. He also said 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,... Erdogan said. A scheduled football match between Besiktas and Antalyaspor in Istanbul was postponed following the attack. Pictures from the scene showed bodies strewn across the shopping street, which is popular with tourists and families. Video showed flames erupting and a loud bang before crowds fled the busy square. Terrifying CCTV footage also captured the moment the blast went off. The video appeared to show a woman dropping a bag on a bench shortly before the explosion. An overturned buggy could be seen in the street in the aftermath of the blast. Eyewitness Cemal Denizci said: ...People were running in panic... There was black smoke. The noise was so strong, almost deafening.... The normally-busy square was cordoned off, and social media users said shops were shuttered and the avenue closed down. Our people can rest assured that the culprits behind the attack will be punished as they deserve President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkish journalist Kerim Ulak said: ...After the sound of the explosion on Beyoğlu Istiklal Street, intensity began to be experienced. ...There are various rumours about the number of injured. However, the opinion of the injured between 5 and 11 is dominant for now. ...Let's state that the number may increase.... An investigation has been launched into the cause of the explosion by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. In the meantime, Turkish authorities have banned all broadcasting of images and video from the explosion on the country's media. The Radio and Television Supreme Council said in a statement: ...A broadcast ban has been imposed regarding the explosion in Istanbul. It has been brought to the attention of all our media organisations.... Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said: ...It is essential to help our Security and Health teams and to avoid posts that might cause fear and panic. ...We will provide healthy information to all relevant teams in the region.... Nobody has claimed responsibility for the blast. Istanbul and other Turkish cities have been targeted in the past by Kurdish separatists, Islamist militants and other groups, including in a series of attacks in 2015 and 2016. The blast comes months ahead of presidential elections expected to be difficult for President Erdogan. Taksim Square is one of the most famous public squares in Istanbul and has been the scene of a number of important events during Turkey's recent history. Read More on The Sun 
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UN-PRETTY I'm pretty & it's NOT good - girls exclude me, they're jealous of my appearance In 1977, right-wing extremists opened fire on a crowd of protesters, killing 37. The square also saw mass demonstrations against the Turkish government in 2013. 
ReutersA huge emergency response has been scrambled to the site of the blast '/ ' 
TwitterReported footage from the aftermath of the blast shows an overturned buggy in the street '/ ' 
TwitterThe blast took place on Istiklal Street, a busy shopping route in the Turkish city '/ ' 
TwitterPanicked crowds were seen fleeing Taksim Square in the city centre '/ '
TwitterAt least six people have been killed in a feared suicide bombing in Istanbul, Turkey '/ ' Bodies seen scattered on the floor following the blast ReutersBodies of unidentified people lay on the ground after the explosion '/ ' A huge emergency response was scrambled to the site of the blast on Istiklal Street near central Istanbul's Taksim Square. Horror footage showed bodies strewn across the ground. Turkey's Vice-President Fuat Oktay said the blast was thought to be a terrorist attack carried out by a woman. Oktay confirmed at least six people died in the explosion and 81 were hurt. READ MORE WORLD NEWS VLAD'S BUTCHERS Russian conscript beaten to death with a sledgehammer after joining Ukraine BRING THEM HOME Moment wives of Russian troops confront generals after 'massacre' It's feared casualty numbers will increase overnight. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said those responsible would be punished. Speaking at a news conference, he condemned the ...vile attack... and said ...the smell of terror... was in the air. Erdogan said Turkey would ...not bow down to terrorism.... Most read in US News NEW DEVELOPMENT Major update in missing boy's case as clue leads cops to search home AIR DISASTER Horror moment 2 planes crash midair at Dallas airshow as crew of 6 feared dead DON NOT DISTURB First glimpse pics of tired Trump revealed on day of Tiffany's wedding NO MISS-TAKE I'm a hot teacher and my fans wish I taught them when they were in school 'GOOD FORTUNE' 'Cult' leader 'boasted about role in Meghan Markle & Prince Harry marriage' GLAM EVENT Donald walks daughter down the aisle as she marries Michael Boulos ...Our people can rest assured that the culprits behind the attack will be punished as they deserve,... he said. He also said 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,... Erdogan said. A scheduled football match between Besiktas and Antalyaspor in Istanbul was postponed following the attack. Pictures from the scene showed bodies strewn across the shopping street, which is popular with tourists and families. Video showed flames erupting and a loud bang before crowds fled the busy square. Terrifying CCTV footage also captured the moment the blast went off. The video appeared to show a woman dropping a bag on a bench shortly before the explosion. An overturned buggy could be seen in the street in the aftermath of the blast. Eyewitness Cemal Denizci said: ...People were running in panic... There was black smoke. The noise was so strong, almost deafening.... The normally-busy square was cordoned off, and social media users said shops were shuttered and the avenue closed down. Our people can rest assured that the culprits behind the attack will be punished as they deserve President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkish journalist Kerim Ulak said: ...After the sound of the explosion on Beyoğlu Istiklal Street, intensity began to be experienced. ...There are various rumours about the number of injured. However, the opinion of the injured between 5 and 11 is dominant for now. ...Let's state that the number may increase.... An investigation has been launched into the cause of the explosion by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. In the meantime, Turkish authorities have banned all broadcasting of images and video from the explosion on the country's media. The Radio and Television Supreme Council said in a statement: ...A broadcast ban has been imposed regarding the explosion in Istanbul. It has been brought to the attention of all our media organisations.... Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said: ...It is essential to help our Security and Health teams and to avoid posts that might cause fear and panic. ...We will provide healthy information to all relevant teams in the region.... Nobody has claimed responsibility for the blast. Istanbul and other Turkish cities have been targeted in the past by Kurdish separatists, Islamist militants and other groups, including in a series of attacks in 2015 and 2016. The blast comes months ahead of presidential elections expected to be difficult for President Erdogan. Taksim Square is one of the most famous public squares in Istanbul and has been the scene of a number of important events during Turkey's recent history. Read More on The Sun MADE UP I'm a beauty fan - here's my honest thoughts on high end makeup dupes in Aldi UN-PRETTY I'm pretty & it's NOT good - girls exclude me, they're jealous of my appearance In 1977, right-wing extremists opened fire on a crowd of protesters, killing 37. The square also saw mass demonstrations against the Turkish government in 2013. ReutersA huge emergency response has been scrambled to the site of the blast '/ ' TwitterReported footage from the aftermath of the blast shows an overturned buggy in the street '/ ' TwitterThe blast took place on Istiklal Street, a busy shopping route in the Turkish city '/ ' TwitterPanicked crowds were seen fleeing Taksim Square in the city centre '/ '
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