ANKARA (News Desk) – Powerful blast on Tuesday rocked the Sultanahmet neighborhood of Turkey’s largest city of Istanbul.
According to Turkish media reports, at least 15 people have died while 12 others were left injured in the suspected suicide blast. A woman exploded herself near Sultanahmet square, reports quoted an unnamed official as saying.
#Istanbul #SultanAhmetMeydanı explosion is said to be suicide attack (Unconfirmed)
— Tüba Altunkaya (@tubaaltunkaya) January 12, 2016
The law enforcement agencies and rescue teams rushed to blast site immediately. The area has been cordoned off while injured have been shifted to the nearby hospitals.
Ambulanslar Sultanahmet Meydanı’na ulaşmaya çalışıyor. pic.twitter.com/jykvS7V03E
— ÇAPAMAG (@CAPAMAG) January 12, 2016
#Istanbul #SultanAhmetMeydanı no more wounded left on the scene.. All are now taken to hospitals
— Tüba Altunkaya (@tubaaltunkaya) January 12, 2016
The officials fear that the number of injured could be high as the area is always crowded with tourists which also include many foreigners. However no official figures have been issued so far.
There are no claims of responsibility of the blast so far.
The location of the blast:
Photos of blast site shared by a Turkish website:
Sultanahmet’ten görüntüler. pic.twitter.com/XwPRzjOetq
— ÇAPAMAG (@CAPAMAG) January 12, 2016
Canlı Blog | Sultanahmet’te patlama: Anadolu Ajansı yayın yasağı getirildiğini duyurdu https://t.co/sSyBgLFpYw pic.twitter.com/Gh3EbNQ39j
— Diken (@DikenComTr) January 12, 2016
Media ban imposed on Sultanahmet blast coverage. #Istanbul
— Mustafa Bağ (@mustafa__bag) January 12, 2016
