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20 injured in suspected car bomb blast near Besiktas stadium in Istanbul (VIDEOS, PHOTOS) 20 injured in suspected car bomb blast near Besiktas stadium in Istanbul (VIDEOS, PHOTOS)
(35 minutes later)
At least 20 people have been injured in a blast outside Besiktas stadium in Istanbul, according to Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, cited by Reuters.At least 20 people have been injured in a blast outside Besiktas stadium in Istanbul, according to Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, cited by Reuters.
The explosion killed at least 13 people, Reuters reported, citing security sources. Meanwhile Al Jazeera reported at least 15 casualties.
The blast likely targeted a riot police bus, the minister said. The blast likely targeted a riot police bus, the minister said. 
"Approximately 20 injured in car bomb attack that happened where our riot police officers had been stationed," Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told journalists. 
The Saturday explosion outside the stadium was a terrorist attack, Turkish Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan announced on Twitter.The Saturday explosion outside the stadium was a terrorist attack, Turkish Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan announced on Twitter.
“Two explosions happened Saturday after a football match,” Alaattin Kilic, a reporter from Istanbul, told RT. “The attacks targeted a police bus as it was leaving the stadium after [a] ... security job.”
Police, according to the reporter, immediately intervened with water cannon to extinguish the fires caused by the explosion.
Rescue units are currently working at the scene, Kilic stressed.
Meanwhile, two witnesses told Reuters they heard two blasts outside the Vodafone Arena
“It was like hell. The flames went all the way up to the sky. I was drinking tea at the cafe next to the mosque,” said Omer Yilmiz, who works as a cleaner at the nearby Dolmabahce mosque.
“People ducked under the tables, women began crying. Football fans drinking tea at the cafe sought shelter, it was horrible,” he told Reuters.
Pictures of grey clouds rising near Besiktas stadium quickly emerged online. Those were followed by images and videos of the explosion's aftermath. Pictures of grey clouds rising near Besiktas stadium quickly emerged online. Those were followed by images and videos of the explosion's aftermath. 
There were two explosions, followed by gunfire, not far from Taksim Square in Istanbul, according to some reports. The Besiktas arena is located in the same part of the city.There were two explosions, followed by gunfire, not far from Taksim Square in Istanbul, according to some reports. The Besiktas arena is located in the same part of the city.
Many Turkish riot police have been seriously injured in the blast, according to a Reuters witness.  Many Turkish riot police have been seriously injured in the blast, according to a Reuters witness.  
Police have sealed off the streets around the Besiktas Vodafone Arena, Reuters said citing a witness. Police have sealed off the streets around the Besiktas Vodafone Arena, Reuters said citing a witness. 
A game between two of Turkey's top teams, Besiktas and Bursaspor, was held at the arena on Saturday evening. The explosion reportedly happened after the match finished and the fans already dispersed. A game between two of Turkey's top teams, Besiktas and Bursaspor, was held at the arena on Saturday evening. The explosion reportedly happened after the match finished and the fans already dispersed. 
None of Bursaspor's fans were injured in the incident, the team reported on Twitter, saying it checked the information with fan groups.None of Bursaspor's fans were injured in the incident, the team reported on Twitter, saying it checked the information with fan groups.