81 people injured after an explosion took place in a busy shopping street.
A major shopping avenue in the centre of Istanbul was rocked by a bomb explosion on Sunday, November 13. Six people have lost their lives and dozens were injured after the explosion took place on Istiklal Avenue, a popular shopping street with restaurants that leads up to the iconic Taksim Square in the capital city.
According to a report in Euronews, a video posted online shows a loud bang along with flashes. Pedestrians who were present on the scene can then be seen running away. Emergency vehicles were immediately rushed to the scene to help the injured civilians present at the site of the bomb explosion.
In an official statement made by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called the blast a treacherous attack, adding that the perpetrators will be punished. Erdogan also made the announcement about the six dead civilians.
Although in his statement, Erdogan did not mention any details about who is behind the bomb blast but said that investigations were being done by the police and the governor’s office. He also said that the footage of the entire area is also being reviewed.
The details about the injured civilians were further added by the Vice President Fuat Oktay, who in a statement said that the total toll of wounded is 81. He also added that the explosion appears to be a terrorist attack.
In Turkey, over 500 civilians and security personnel were killed in similar bombings that took place in 2015 and 2017.
Meanwhile several foreign governments have offered their condolences in the wake of the attack.
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