EXPLOSION IN ISTANBUL

Posted on 01/12/2016 | About Istanbul, Turkey

An explosion rocked Istanbul’s Sultanahmet Square, close to the world famous Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, this morning, killing at least 10 people and wounding 15 others. Several tourists are believed to be among the injured, including three Germans and two from Norway.

An official from a tour company told Reuters news agency that a group of German tourists were in the square at the time of the blast. Some reports suggest the blast was caused by a suicide bomber but this has not been confirmed. No group immediately claimed responsibility. "Investigations continue about the explosion's cause, the explosive's types, the perpetrator or perpetrators of the event," said Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin. Turkey has had recent of threats to its security, and the country is on a higher alert than usual. In October, two explosions hit a lunchtime peace rally in Ankara, which called for an end to the renewed conflict between the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and Turkish government. Ninety-nine people were killed more than 240 were injured. ISIS which is active in neighbouring Iraq, and the Kurdish group the PKK have been mentioned in recent outbreaks of violence. The Turkish government allows the United States to launch strikes on ISIS positions from Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey. Kurdish forces have been battling ISIS in northern Iraq and Syria.