A fresh bomb attack close to the heart of Istanbul’s historic district has killed at least eleven people and left 36 wounded.
Terrorists are believed to have targeted a bus carrying Turkish police officers, but at least four of those killed were civilians, say reports.
The bomb exploded during this morning’s rush hour in the Vezneciler district of Istanbul, close to tourist attractions and Istanbul University.
Gunshots were reportedly heard in the area after the explosion, according to the Anadolu news agency.
Local reports say a parked car packed with explosives was detonated using a remote control as the police bus passed.
The force of the explosion flipped the police bus upside down and damaged nearby buildings and trees.
Latest reports say three of the 36 injured are in hospital in a critical condition.
It is the fourth major bomb attack on Istanbul this year. A bomb in the centre of Istanbul’s tourist district in January, killed 10 German tourists and left 15 injured.
The violence has prompted several UK travel companies to pull out of or reduce their capacity to Turkey this summer.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns that further attacks in Turkey are likely and that ‘attacks could be indiscriminate and affect places visited by foreigners’.
It said the Vezneciler metro station and roads around the area have been closed, adding: “If you are in the area, follow the advice of local security authorites.”
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