10 dead in likely suicide terror attack in Istanbul

Cause of explosion in historic Sultanahmet district, popular with tourists, still being investigated; police block off area

Policemen secure an area at the historic Sultanahmet district, which is popular with tourists, after a suicide bombing that killed 10 in Istanbul, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Policemen secure an area at the historic Sultanahmet district, which is popular with tourists, after a suicide bombing that killed 10 in Istanbul, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

An explosion at Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district, which is popular with tourists, has killed 10 people and injured at least 15 Tuesday, Turkish media reports and officials said.

The Istanbul governor’s office confirmed the death toll of at least 10. A statement said 15 other people were injured.

The cause of the explosion, which could be heard from several neighborhoods, is under investigation, but state-run TRT television says it was likely caused by a suicide bomber. A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of government rules, said the explosion was believed to be “terror-linked.” He did not provide further details.

Private NTV television said the explosion was close to a park that is home to a landmark obelisk.

Turkey’s Dogan news agency reported that at least six Germans, one Norwegian and one Peruvian were among the wounded, and Seoul’s Foreign Ministry told reporters via text message that one South Korean had a finger injury.

Police sealed the area, barring people from approaching in case of a second explosion.

Erdem Koroglu, who was working at a nearby office, told NTV television he saw several people on the ground following the blast.

“It was difficult to say who was alive or dead,” Koroglu said. “Buildings rattled from the force of the explosion.”

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu immediately convened a security meeting with the country’s interior minister and other officials.

As with previous attacks, authorities imposed a news blackout, barring media from showing images of the dead or injured or reporting any details of the investigation.

Video posted to social media showed thick smoke rising from the scene of the explosion.

The Sultanahmet neighborhood is Istanbul’s main sight-seeing area and includes the Topkapi Palace and Blue Mosque.

Turkey suffered two major bombing attacks last year.

More than 30 people were killed in an Islamic State suicide attack in the town of Suruc, near Turkey’s border with Syria, in July.

Two suicide bombs in October outside Ankara’s main train station as people gathered for a peace rally killed more than 100 people. It was Turkey’s deadliest attack. The prosecutor’s office said the attack was carried out by a local Islamic State cell.

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