Epress.am News from Armenia
An explosion at a bus stop that rocked the Etiler neighborhood of İstanbul early on Thursday and was most likely caused by a bomb injured seven people, officials have said, reports Today’s Zaman.
The explosion took place near Akmerkez, one of İstanbul’s leading shopping centers, around 9 am. Initial reports said one person was injured but İstanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu said seven people, including a police officer, were injured in the blast. He said their injuries are not life threatening.
The Associated Press also said several people were injured in the blast.
Ambulances were immediately dispatched to the area. An eyewitness who spoke to the NTV news channel said she heard only one explosion. The eyewitness, who identified herself as an employee of a shop in Akmerkez, said police evacuated the area fearing that there may be other explosions. The eyewitness also confirmed that the explosion took place at the bus stop under the Koç Bridge.
Police have yet to determine the cause of the explosion, but reports say the blast might have been caused by a percussion bomb. CNN-Turk news channel said it appeared to have been a device planted in a waste bin.
There are reports that the explosion may have targeted a police academy near Akmerkez.
Turkey has been experiencing increased tension in recent weeks, with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) stepping up their campaign of violence ahead of the June 12 parliamentary elections. The group has mainly targeted the police in its recent attacks.
Photo cropped from original published by Today’s Zaman.