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Rabat – An explosion hit Istanbul’s popular Istiklal avenue on Sunday, killing 4 and injuring 38 people.
“Police, medical, fire, and AFAD [Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency] teams were sent to the scene,” Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya tweeted following the blast.
The official also confirmed the casualties and injuries. “We wish God’s mercy upon those who lost their lives and speedy recovery to the injured,” Yerlikaya said, promising to share future developments with the public.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, although some reports say there are strong suspicions that it was a suicide bombing.
An investigation into the explosion was opened by the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office, with a ban imposed by the country’s media regulator on sharing footage of the blast.
Istiklal avenue is often crowded with tourists and locals, as the street is considered one of the most popular spots in Istanbul.
Video footage showed erupting flames and loud bangs as pedestrians ran away from the blast. The avenue and all its shops are reported to have closed down as police, ambulance, and firefighting vehicles surround the scene.
Turkiye suffered a string a bombings between 2015 and 2017, but has not had any recent warning of potential attacks.
