Iran’s foreign ministry has condemned a “terrorist incident” that killed several people in a busy shopping street in Istanbul, Turkey’s commercial hub.
“We strongly condemn any act of terrorism that targets the country and people of Turkey,” spokesman Nasser Kanani said on Sunday.
“We stand by the friendly and brotherly government and people of the Turkish Republic,” he added, wishing a speedy recovery to those injured in the tragic incident.
The remarks came after a violent explosion that tore through the Turkish city’s Istiklal Street, which was packed with people at the time of the explosion.
Six people were killed and at least 81 injured in the explosion. Authorities later said a government ministry official and his daughter had died. Five people are in intensive care at the hospital, two of whom are in critical condition.
No individual or group claims responsibility for the apparent attack.
However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the incident featured “terrorist” acts.
“It may be wrong to assert that this is terrorism, but according to the first signs, it smells of fear,” Erdogan said at a news conference.
The Turkish president has promised that the perpetrators of the attack will be punished.
“We, the people, can be sure that the perpetrators behind the attacks will get the punishment they deserve,” he said before leaving for the G20 summit in Indonesia.
Vice President Huat Oktay, who visited the site of the blast, said, “We believe that the detonation of the bomb was an act of terrorism by an alleged female attacker.”
Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said, “A woman got up after sitting on one of the benches for more than 40 minutes.”
“A minute or two later there was an explosion,” he told Harbor Television, speculating that the woman had left her explosive bag behind on the bench she was sitting on before it exploded.
