A huge explosion hit central square of the Turkish capital of Istanbul, Dogan news agency reports.
Turkish media reports say several people injured in the explosion. The incident reportedly took place at the historic Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque) square.
The area is sealed off. Ambulances and police have arrived at the scene.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. But according several reports an explosive device was placed under one of the benches near the tram stop.
The Sultanahmet square, close to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, is a major tourist area of Istanbul.
German tourists are among those injured at Istanbul’s central square when an explosion occurred earlier on Tuesday, Turkey’s NTV television reported.
The explosion was centered near a tram stop. The number of injured in the blast has not yet been disclosed.
According to some speculations, an explosive device may have been detonated by a suicide bomber.
Turkish authorities have banned the media from giving any information about the explosion that hit Istanbul Jan.12, the Turkish Habertürk newspaper reported Jan.12.
Turkish authorities have confirmed the death of ten people in the explosion in Istanbul, the TRT Haber news channel reported Jan. 12.
Fifteen people were injured in the explosion, according to the report.
TRT Haber also said that currently Interior Minister of Turkey Efkan Ala is holding a meeting with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in connection with the Istanbul explosion.
The cause of the explosion is a terrorist attack, according to the Turkish Haber7 newspaper. It is reported that a suicide bomber blew himself up near the foreign tourists.
Huge Explosion Hits Central Istanbul, Casualties Reported - VIDEO
12 January 2016
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