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At least 10 killed in Istanbul blast: Governor

Tuesday, 12 January 2016 8:37 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 12 January 2016 3:07 PM ]

First-responders arrive at the site of an explosion in Sultanahmet district in the Turkish city of Istanbul, January 12, 2016.

A large explosion in central Istanbul, Turkey, has left at least 10 people killed and 15 others injured, its governor's office says.

The blast took place in Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet square, a major tourist attraction in Turkey's most populous city. Istanbul has been the target of bomb blasts before.

"There are at least nine Germans among the 10 killed," a government official told AFP.

According to Turkey's media reports, at least six Germans, one Norwegian, one Peruvian and one South Korean were wounded.

No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility for the bombing but previous attacks were blamed on Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan alleged that the blast was an "attack by a Syria-rooted suicide bomber."

"Unfortunately... there are fatalities, including locals and foreigners. This incident showed again we have to stand together in the face of terror,” he said.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu blamed the terrorist Takfiri Daesh group for the deadly attack.

A government official had told Associated Press that the explosion was believed to be “terror-linked,” while two senior Turkish security officials told Reuters there was a “high probability” the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group was responsible.

Meanwhile, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said most of those killed in the attack were foreigners, adding that the suspected assailant has been identified as a 28-year-old Syrian national.

Police secure the area after an explosion near the Ottoman-era Sultanahmet mosque, known as the Blue mosque in Istanbul, Turkey January 12, 2016. (Reuters Photo)

The Sultanahmet district is the main sightseeing area of Istanbul where the Topkapi Palace and the Haghia Sophia museum are located.

Turkey has been on high security alert since more than 100 people were killed in twin blasts in Ankara last October. The attack was blamed on Daesh terrorists.

Ankara has been among the main supporters of the militant groups operating in Syria, which has been grappling with a foreign-backed crisis since March 2011.

A member of the militant group recently captured by Syrian Kurdish fighters said Turkey has long been training members of the Daesh terror group in camps on its soil.

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