TIRANA, November 13 – Multiple casualties were reported, including death and at least 11 wounded, when an explosion hit Istanbul’s popular pedestrian Istiklal Avenue on Sunday.
“Today, at around 16.20, an explosion occurred in Taksim Istiklal Street in our Beyoğlu district. Our police, health, fire and AFAD teams were sent to the scene. There are casualties and injuries. Developments will be shared with the public,” Istanbul Gov. Ali Yerlikaya said on Twitter as quoted by Turkish media.
Footage showed ambulances, fire trucks and police at the scene. The cause of the explosion was not clear. Social media users said shops were shuttered and the avenue closed down.
Turkey was hit by a string of deadly bombings between 2015 and 2017 by the Islamic State group and outlawed Kurdish groups./Argumentum.al
