Several wounded in blast near Istanbul army barracks

At least five people injured in explosion in Sancaktepe neighborhood on outskirts of city

By Agencies 12 May 2016, 5:50 pm

Edit

File: Emergency services inspecting the area following a suicide bombing in central Istanbul, Turkey, March 19, 2016. (Burak Kara/Getty Images via JTA)

An explosion occurred Thursday close to a military barracks in Istanbul, leaving at least five people wounded, television reports said, as Turkey was on high alert for attacks.

The blast, which came from inside a car, occurred in Sancaktepe district on the Asian side of Istanbul, the NTV and CNN-Turk news channels said.

The explosion took place when a military service vehicle was passing the area but initial reports said none of the personnel inside were wounded.

Television pictures showed the vehicle where the explosion took place was almost completely destroyed, with yellow flames rising from the debris.

The explosion comes with Turkey on edge after two deadly attacks in Istanbul this year blamed on Islamic State jihadists, and a pair of attacks in Ankara that were claimed by Kurdish militants and killed dozens.