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Fourteen die in Istanbul blasts | |
(30 minutes later) | |
At least 14 people have been killed in two explosions in Istanbul, which the governor of the Turkish city has described as terror attacks. | |
The first blast occurred in a telephone booth and the second went off as crowds gathered. About 70 people were wounded. | The first blast occurred in a telephone booth and the second went off as crowds gathered. About 70 people were wounded. |
TV footage showed bloodied men and women lying on the street and being carried to ambulances in blankets. | TV footage showed bloodied men and women lying on the street and being carried to ambulances in blankets. |
The blasts occurred at 2200 local time (1900 GMT) in the Gungoren district of the city, popular with local people. | The blasts occurred at 2200 local time (1900 GMT) in the Gungoren district of the city, popular with local people. |
Terrorists are trying to destabilise the country Murat Mercan, AK Party In pictures: Istanbul blastsTimeline: Turkey attacks | |
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford says the area is popular with crowds taking a stroll on a warm evening. | The BBC's Sarah Rainsford says the area is popular with crowds taking a stroll on a warm evening. |
Police, firefighters and natural gas teams are now in the area. Initial reports had suggested it may have been a gas leak. | Police, firefighters and natural gas teams are now in the area. Initial reports had suggested it may have been a gas leak. |
Hidden in bins | Hidden in bins |
But Governor Muammer Guler said he was "certain that this is a terror attack". | But Governor Muammer Guler said he was "certain that this is a terror attack". |
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Aftermath of explosions in Istanbul | Aftermath of explosions in Istanbul |
He said the bombs had been placed in rubbish bins and that it was not a suicide bombing. | He said the bombs had been placed in rubbish bins and that it was not a suicide bombing. |
"The blasts occurred in a very busy district and this raised the casualties. Thirteen citizens lost their lives in this heinous attack," he said. | |
The editor of the New Anatolian newspaper, Ilnur Cevik, told the BBC there had been about 1,000 people in the area when the first, small bomb went off. | The editor of the New Anatolian newspaper, Ilnur Cevik, told the BBC there had been about 1,000 people in the area when the first, small bomb went off. |
"It attracted a lot of people to the area," he said. "Some were coming in to rescue and then a second bomb went off and that was where most of the casualties occurred." | "It attracted a lot of people to the area," he said. "Some were coming in to rescue and then a second bomb went off and that was where most of the casualties occurred." |
A politician from the governing AK Party, Murat Mercan, told the BBC that Turkey would not give in to terrorists. | A politician from the governing AK Party, Murat Mercan, told the BBC that Turkey would not give in to terrorists. |
"Terrorists are trying to destabilise the country, but Turkey has already a lot of experience on this terrorism so it won't distract our country, our society from daily, ordinary life," he said. | |
There have been no claims of responsibility for the blasts, but Turkish cities have been targeted by various groups in recent years. | There have been no claims of responsibility for the blasts, but Turkish cities have been targeted by various groups in recent years. |
In November 2003, more than 60 people were killed by a series of suicide bombings in Istanbul which the authorities linked to al-Qaeda. | In November 2003, more than 60 people were killed by a series of suicide bombings in Istanbul which the authorities linked to al-Qaeda. |
Kurdish rebels carried out a spate of attacks on tourist sites in Turkey in 2006, killing more than a dozen people. | Kurdish rebels carried out a spate of attacks on tourist sites in Turkey in 2006, killing more than a dozen people. |
Were you in any of the areas affected? Send us your experiences by using the form below: | Were you in any of the areas affected? Send us your experiences by using the form below: |
You can also send us pictures and video to:yourpics@bbc.co.uk , or send them by MMS to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload it here. Read the terms and conditions | You can also send us pictures and video to:yourpics@bbc.co.uk , or send them by MMS to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload it here. Read the terms and conditions |
Do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringed any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringed any laws. |