Presumably, a car bomb caused the explosion. The blast was so strong that it was heard in Ataturk Airport, according to witnesses.
Bomb squads, policemen and ambulances have been sent to the scene.
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17:43
At least five people sustained serious wounds, one of them is in critical condition, local NTV television reported. Ambulances have been dispatched to the scene. Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said that the blast was caused by a bomb planted on a motorcycle. The explosion damaged nearby buildings. Police are looking for a suspect.
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17:26
According to Milliyet newspaper, a large number of people were wounded when a suspected car bomb went off near the police station.
The media outlet adds that ambulances have been dispatched to the scene.
At least one person has been seriously injured, Reuters reports, adding that the police station in question was located near Istanbul’s Ataturk airport.
Turkey has witnessed a series of attacks in the past months, with officials putting the blame either on ISIS or Kurdistan’s Worker’s Party, whom it considers terrorists.
One of the deadliest dates back to June 28 when three attackers launched suicide bombings and a shootout at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport. 45 people were killed and some 230 injured in the massacre. All three assailants also died as a result. Turkish officials said the assault was masterminded by Islamic State.
