istanbul
CNN
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An explosion rocked central Istanbul on Sunday afternoon, with injuries reported at a popular tourist destination.
Istanbul Governor Ali Yelikaya tweeted that the blast happened on Istiklal Street in Beyoğlu Square.
“Our police, health, fire and AFAD teams have been dispatched to the scene,” he said, adding that there were casualties. “The development will be shared with the public,” he said. rice field.
Meanwhile, the country’s state-run Anadolu News Agency tweeted in English: “There are casualties in the explosion on Istanbul’s Istiklal Street.”
Local media reports and images from the area showed numerous emergency vehicles in the aftermath of the explosion and at least one person being treated. and the area had been off-limits by security forces.
The cause of the explosion is unknown, and CNN cannot independently confirm whether there were any casualties.
One of the witnesses, Tariq Kebraoui, told CNN he saw several people lying on the ground after the explosion on Istiklal Street.
Kebrawi said he was in a store on Istiklal Street when the explosion happened about 10 meters away from him.
The extent of the injuries to those he saw was not clear, but several were bleeding from their legs and arms.
Istiklal Street, a popular tourist destination, was crowded on Sunday, Kebraui said. Istiklal Street is he one of the main streets leading to Taksim Square.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu called for help from teams of police and medical workers responding to explosions in the city.
“It is imperative to support police and medical teams regarding the explosion on Istiklal Street and avoid posts that may cause fear and panic. I will,” he tweeted.
This is a developing story.
