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Fourteen die in Istanbul blasts Deadly blasts hit Istanbul street
(about 2 hours 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. At least 15 people have been killed and 154 wounded in two explosions in the Turkish city of Istanbul, in what officials say was a terrorist attack.
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 rubbish bin in the busy Gungoren residential area. The second, larger explosion occurred as crowds gathered.
TV footage showed bloodied men and women lying on the street and being carried to ambulances in blankets. So far there has been no indication of who was responsible for the blasts.
The blasts occurred at 2200 local time (1900 GMT) in the Gungoren district of the city, popular with local people. President Abdullah Gul said the attack showed "the ruthlessness of terrorism and its goal to engage in savagery".
Terrorists are trying to destabilise the country Murat Mercan, AK Party class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7528000.stm">In pictures: Istanbul blasts class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/5292122.stm">Timeline: Turkey attacks After the explosions, there were scenes of panic, with people covered in blood as they tried to run from the scene. TV footage showed many victims lying on the street and being carried to ambulances in blankets.
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.
Hidden in binsHidden in bins
But Governor Muammer Guler said he was "certain that this is a terror attack". Initia reports suggested it may have been a gas leak, but Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler later said he was "certain that this is a terror attack" aimed at causing maximum casualties.
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Aftermath of explosions in IstanbulAftermath of explosions in Istanbul
He said the bombs had been placed in rubbish bins and that it was not a suicide bombing. The blasts occurred about ten minute apart around 2200 local time (1900 GMT) on a busy pedestrian street.
"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 that about 1,000 people had been in the area at the time.
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 first explosion was caused by a small device placed in a rubbish bin in front of a bank. Afterwards, a crowd gathered in the area.
"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." Then a second bomb placed in another bin about 50m from the first exploded minutes later.
A politician from the governing AK Party, Murat Mercan, told the BBC that Turkey would not give in to terrorists. "The first explosion was not very strong," Huseyin Senturk, the owner of a nearby shoe shop, told the Associated Press.
"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. Terrorists are trying to destabilise the country Murat Mercan, AK Party class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7528000.stm">In pictures: Istanbul blasts class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/5292122.stm">Timeline: Turkey attacks
There have been no claims of responsibility for the blasts, but Turkish cities have been targeted by various groups in recent years. "Several people came to see what was going on. That's when the second explosion occurred and it injured many onlookers."
Mr Guler said police believed the blasts were not suicide bombings.
"This is an abhorrent attack. Unfortunately, the fact that the explosion took place in a crowded place increased the number of the casualties," he said.
"An extensive investigation is being conducted at present at the scene of the incident."
Turkish media quote police sources as saying the attack bears the hallmarks of the rebel Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), possibly in revenge for a series of major operations by the Turkish military on its bases in recent days.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says the PKK has bombed civilians in Turkish cities in the past, but so have Islamist militants and other radical groups.
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.
'Brutal attack'
As the police investigation continues, Turkish politicians have condemned Sunday's attack.
President Gul said: "I condemn the perpetrators of this attack which demonstrates the ruthlessness of terrorism and its goal to engage in savagery without any regard for women, men, the elderly or children."
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan such attacks only strengthened Turkey's determination in its fight against terrorism.
A politician from Mr Erdogan's 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.
Earlier this month, three policemen and three gunmen were killed in a gun battle outside the US consulate in a northern suburb of Istanbul.
Police said they believed the attackers were members of a Turkish Sunni Islamic fundamentalist group, the Great Eastern Islamic Raiders Front.
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