IRIA News

At least six people died and more than 81 have been reported injured in an explosion at Istanbul’s popular pedestrian street, Istiklal Avenue, on November 13, 2022.

The blast took place on Sunday evening around 16:20 local time when the street was full of pedestrians, shoppers, and tourists. Videos and photos circulating on social media showed some bodies lying on the street. The flames and smoke can be seen from a distance in the videos shared on social media.

Video footage showed ambulances, fire trucks, and police rushing to the scene. Turkish media reported that the police closed Istiklal Street, just off Taksim Square, due to the possibility of a second explosion.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack reported to be the first major bomb blast in Istanbul in several years. However, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters on Monday that officials believe Kurdish separatists from the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) were most likely behind the bomb attack.

Initial reports suggested that the blast was a suicide attack. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said the blast was thought to be a terrorist attack carried out by a woman.

According to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, Vice President Fuat Oktay said “We consider it to be a terrorist act as a result of an attacker, whom we consider to be a woman, detonating the bomb.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the explosion on Istiklal Avenue was a “heinous attack” and its perpetrators would be punished. During a press conference before his departure for Indonesia to attend the G-20 summit, the Turkish president stated that “based on initial information from the governor, the explosion could be a suspected act of terrorism.”

He also vowed that those who waged terrorism against the Turkish nation would fail. “Efforts to defeat Turkey and the Turkish people through terrorism will fail today just as they did yesterday and as they will again tomorrow,” Erdogan said. “Our people can rest assured that the culprits behind the attack will be punished as they deserve,” he said.

Istanbul city’s Governor Ali Yerlikaya shared the initial details of the attack and said that the injured are being treated. “We pray for God’s mercy on those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the injured,” he tweeted.

Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has immediately launched an investigation into the explosion, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The Turkish media regulator, Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK), has imposed a temporary broadcast ban on sharing footage of the explosion or reports on all visual and audio news outlets and on social media. Turkey also experienced disruption in social media platforms, including Twitter, after the deadly explosion.

For years, Turkey has been fighting the militants known as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, European Union members, and NATO. Turkey was hit by a string of bombings between 2015 and 2017 by the ISIS group as well as Kurdish militants.

Condolences and condemnation

Several countries including Azerbaijan, Egypt, Pakistan, Ukraine, Sweden Germany, Greece, and Saudi Arabia condemned the attack and offered condolences to the victims.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described the images from Istanbul as shocking. “My thoughts and deepest condolences to all those affected and to the Turkish people. NATO stands in solidarity with our Ally Türkiye” he tweeted.

Charles Michel, European Council President, said: “All our thoughts are with those currently responding and the people of Türkiye at this very distressing time.”

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said that Baku is “deeply shocked” by the news, adding: “I extend my deep condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who were killed, and the brotherly people of Türkiye, and wish the injured recovery.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted that he is “deeply saddened” by the news and extended condolences to the victims, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. “The pain of the friendly Turkish people is our pain,” Zelenkskyy added.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen expressed his “sincere condolences to the people of Turkey and the citizens of Istanbul” following the horrific explosion in the heart of Istanbul.