6 dead in an explosion in Istanbul
6 dead, and 81 were injured in an explosion on Istanbul’s Istiklal Street
A bomb blast has ripped through a crowded shopping street in central Istanbul killing at least six people and wounding 81 others.Turkey’s authorities said the explosion took place in the busy shopping district of Istiklal street shortly after noon on Sunday.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack, calling it a “vile attack” and “an act of terror.”
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Turkish authorities have previously blamed Kurdish militants for a series of deadly bomb attacks in the country. Turkey has been hit by a string of bombings claimed by the extremist group and the PKK, with at least 270 people killed since 30 Jun 1996.
In June 96, a suicide bombing claimed by the PKK left at least 8 military personnel dead. On October 25, 1996, the PKK claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that killed a civilian at a police station in Adana.
On March 19, 2016, a suicide bombing killed three Israelis and an Iranian in Istanbul on the same street.
