Updated December 11, 2016 09:53:37
Twin explosions outside a soccer stadium in central Istanbul have killed at least 13 people, police sources said, hours after the end of a match between two of Turkey's top teams.
Broadcaster NTV said 38 people had been wounded but gave no details of any death toll. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu earlier said around 20 people had been wounded and that there was no immediate information on any deaths.
Mr Soylu, speaking in Parliament during a budget hearing, said initial indications were that the blasts were caused by a car bomb and a suicide bomber targeting a riot police bus.
The suspected bomber struck in Macka park, next to the Vodafone Arena, home to Istanbul's Besiktas soccer team, while the second explosion hit directly outside the stadium, Mr Soylu said, describing the attack as a "cruel plot".
The attack targeted police and civilians and aimed to cause as many casualties as possible, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement.
"A terrorist attack has been carried out against our security forces and our citizens. It has been understood that the explosions after the Besiktas-Bursaspor football game aimed to maximise casualties. As a result of these attacks unfortunately we have martyrs and wounded," he said.
A Reuters photographer said many riot police officers were seriously wounded.
Omer Yilmiz, who works as a cleaner at the nearby Dolmabahce mosque, was drinking tea at a nearby cafe when the explosions went off.
"It was like hell. The flames went all the way up to the sky," he said.
"People ducked under the tables, women began crying. Football fans drinking tea at the cafe sought shelter, it was horrible."
Armed police sealed off streets around the Vodafone Arena. TV footage showed what appeared to be the wreckage of a burned out car and two separate fires on the road outside the stadium.
Soccer team Bursaspor said none of its fans appeared to have been injured in the explosion.
"We have contacted our fan groups. There appear to be no injuries among our fans. We wish injured citizens a quick recovery," it said in a statement on its Twitter account.
Turkey has been hit by a series of bombings in recent years, some blamed on Islamic State militants, others claimed by Kurdish and far-leftist militant groups.
Reuters
First posted December 11, 2016 07:02:14
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