Blast kills one, injures others at Istanbul's main square

[News_Editor]

Blast kills one, injures others at Istanbul's main square

2010-10-31 16:42:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISTANBUL (BNO NEWS) -- At least one person was killed and several others were injured after a suspected bomb blast that targeted a police vehicle in Istanbul's main square, local media reported on Sunday.

The blast happened at about 10.38 a.m. local time at Taksim Square, a major shopping and tourist destination in the European part of Turkey's largest city. Windows of nearby shops, hotels and restaurants were broken by the explosion.

According to the Cumhuriyet newspaper, at least one person was killed while fifteen others were injured. Two of the injured were in a serious condition, according to CNN Turk.

NTV Television reported that the blast was believed to have been caused by a suicide bomber who targeted a police vehicle, indicating the fatality may be the attacker.

It was not immediately clear who was behind Sunday's attack, although the Kurdistan Workers' Party has frequently carried out deadly attacks in Turkey. The armed separatist group, which is considered by Turkey, the European Union and the United States as a terrorist organization, has been fighting for autonomy in southeastern Turkey since the 1980s.

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