ISTANBUL — At least six people were killed and dozens of others injured in an explosion in Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday, officials say.
According to The Associated Press, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that an explosion near a popular pedestrian area Sunday was caused by a “bomb attack.”
Erdogan confirmed the explosion was a bombing, said The Wall Street Journal.
Erdogan also confirmed that four people died at the scene and two people died in the hospital, according to the AP. He said the Istanbul governor informed him that 53 people were injured. Erdogan said that the explosion was a “treacherous attack” and the people behind it will be punished.
According to the WSJ, the attack happened on Istiklal Street, which is an area filled with restaurants and shops on the European side of Istanbul. The AP said this area is popular with tourists and locals.
Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said that the explosion happened at 4:20 p.m. local time, according to the WSJ.
The WSJ said that police officers, including some in riot gear, blocked off the street following the explosion.
Between 2015 and 2017, Turkey was hit by deadly bombings by the Islamic State group and outlawed Kurdish groups, according to the AP.
A suicide bombing on Istiklal in March 2016 claimed the lives of five people and Turkish officials blamed the attack on the Islamic State group, according to the WSJ. The attacks, as well as a failed military coup attempt in 2016, has impacted Turkey’s tourism and economy.
The WSJ said that no one has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information has been released.
©2022 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
