Six dead in explosion in Istanbul

At least six people have been killed and 53 injured in an explosion in the heart of the Turkish city of Istanbul, according to the city’s governor.

Those who were injured are being treated, the governor, Ali Yerlikaya, added.

“We wish God’s mercy on those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the injured,” he tweeted.

Yerlikaya earlier confirmed that the explosion took place on Istiklal Street in Beyoglu Square and that emergency services were at the scene. “Developments will be shared with the public,” he said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the explosion might be terror-related, but that it is not certain at this point.

In a news conference, Erdogan said: “It may be wrong if we say this is definitely terror but according to preliminary findings, what my governors told us, that there is a smell of terror here.”

The president also said that, according to preliminary information, a woman played a role in the explosion and that the Istanbul police chief and authorities in the Istanbul Governor’s office were reviewing CCTV footage.

“All the responsible figures will be identified and punished,” Erdogan said.

He added that he and his delegation would be departing shortly for the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, as planned.

An investigation has been launched into the explosion.

Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has begun the investigation, with five public prosecutors assigned to it.

The city’s criminal court issued a broadcast ban on all visual and audio news, as well on social media sites, related to the explosion.