DUSHANBE, January 13, 2016, Asia-Plus – — An explosion in the heart of Istanbul”s historic Sultanahmet tourist district killed at least ten people and wounded 15 on Tuesday and some local media reports said a suicide bomber may have been responsible.
According to CNN, Turkish officials said that the suicide bomber belonged to ISIS.
No group claimed responsibility for the blast, yet Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu pinned blame on the group that calls itself the Islamic State, which has entrenched itself in neighboring Syria and Iraq while proving willing time and again to lash out elsewhere.
At least eight Germans died in the blast between the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque tourist attractions in Istanbul”s cultural and historic heart, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, warning that figure may rise.
A Turkish official earlier told
CNN
that at least nine Germans were killed. Davutoglu indicated that the 15 wounded were from inside and outside his country, with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier saying nine of those were German.
Six German citizens, one Norwegian and a Peruvian woman were among the wounded, the
Dogan
news agency said.
Turkey is a popular destination for Germans, and Germany”s foreign ministry urged travelers in Istanbul “to avoid public gatherings (and) tourist attractions for now” after the attack.
The Peruvian foreign ministry said in a statement that one of its citizens is in stable condition at a hospital after being wounded.
According to
Reuters
, Norway”s foreign ministry said one Norwegian man was injured and was being treated in hospital.
