Istanbul Shopping Street Suicide Bombing: 6 Dead, Numerous Injured

On Sunday afternoon, there were a lot of people in the area, so police blocked it off, and helicopters were flying over the city as sirens wailed.

According to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a powerful explosion of unknown origin rocked Istanbul's busy commercial area of Istiklal on Sunday, killing six people and injuring scores more. The incident, according to Turkey's vice president, was carried out by a suicide bomber.

In a televised press conference, Erdogan said: "It might be erroneous if we claim for certainty that this is terror, but according to first signs... there is a smell of horror there."

The culprits of this heinous act are being sought after by the pertinent state agencies, he declared.

On Sunday afternoon, there were a lot of people in the area, so police fenced it off while helicopters flew over the city's core and sirens sounded.

"I was about 50 and 55 yards away when I suddenly heard an explosion. I noticed three or four individuals lying on the floor "57-year-old witness Cemal Denizci spoke to AFP.

"In a panic, people were running. It made a lot of noise. The smoke was dark. The boom was so loud that it was nearly deafening, "said he.

As they left the area, parents gathered their kids in their arms.

No explanation for the explosion's cause has been provided by the authorities.

A big security cordon has been set up by the police to bar entry to the damaged area out of concern for a second explosion, according to an AFP video journalist on the site.

All entrances were equally barred by a massive security presence, and it was clear that both police and rescue personnel were present in large numbers.

The explosion happened in the well-known Istiklal shopping district, which is well-liked by both locals and tourists, shortly after 4:00 pm (1300 GMT).

Images shared on social media at the time of the explosion show that it was accompanied by flames and that people instantly ran in all directions out of fright.

These pictures showed a massive dark crater and a number of bodies on the ground nearby.

Istiklal Street had previously been attacked during an attack campaign that targeted Istanbul in 2015–2016.

These attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic State organization, left more than 2,000 people injured and almost 500 dead.