#Turkey: reports of explosion on Istiklal in Taksim. It appears some people are wounded but few details. #Istanbul pic.twitter.com/o0TMi4nekH
— Lucy Kafanov (@LucyKafanov) March 19, 2016
Explosion hit Istanbul's busy pedestrian Istiklal Street close to symbolic Taksim Square. At least five people were killed (inckuding the suicide bomber) and 36 were injured according to the Turkish Ministry of Health.
"Five people were killed in the suicide attack. There are 36 people currently in our hospitals, seven of them are in critical condition. There are 12 foreigners among the injured," Turkish Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu told reporters.
Son Dakika!! #Taksim İstiklal Caddesi Demirören AVM önünde patlama. Çok Sayıda Yaralı Var pic.twitter.com/67AsX1sKhw
— Şükrü SEZER #VATAN (@istanbuldirenis) March 19, 2016
Earlier in the day, Governor of Istanbul Province Vasip Sahin said that four people were killed and 20 were injured.
Istanbul's istiqlal street being sealed off. Ambulances here. Witness told me he heard explosion, say a body pic.twitter.com/gWDb307xer
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) March 19, 2016
The police surrounded the area.
Police have closed off Istiklal Street following bombing, 2 wounded #Istanbul pic.twitter.com/tGzi9kDFpD
— Hassan Ridha (@sayed_ridha) March 19, 2016
Counsulates of several countries are located in the area where the explosion occurred.
VIDEO: Security services rush to the scene of the explosion in #Istanbul #Turkey — @taylieli pic.twitter.com/SpSQgVgVqZ
— Conflict News (@Conflicts) March 19, 2016
The explosion occurred near the Beyoğlu administration building.
The explosion comes as Turkey is on edge following two recent suicide bomb attacks in the country's capital of Ankara.
Earlier this week, the German Foreign Ministry said that the German Embassy in Ankara and the Consulate General in Istanbul as well as German schools in both cities had been closed due to the high threat of terrorist attacks.
