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Istanbul explosion leaves 10 people dead

According to the Radikal daily, nine citizens of Germany are among them

Photo {{sliderIndex+1}} from 5

Emergency personnel working at the scene after an explosion near the Blue Mosque, in the Sultanahmet district of central Istanbul, Turkey

© EPA/SEDAT SUNA

© EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU

© AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis

Ambulances and firefighters stationed near the city's landmark Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue Mosque after an explosion at Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district

© AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis

ANKARA, January 12. /TASS/. At least 10 people have been killed and 15 others injured in the explosion in Istanbul, the press service of the Istanbul governor reported on Tuesday.

According to the Radikal daily, among those killed are nine citizens of Germany.

The blast occurred at 10:20 local time (11:20 Moscow Time) by the obelisk of Theodosius close to the tram stop. According to eyewitnesses, the explosion was very powerful and could be heard in the neighboring districts. There are usually many tourists on Sultanahmet square. Now the square is cordoned off, investigative actions are underway. A police helicopter is patrolling the area.

According to Reuters, Istanbul’s authorities are conducting an investigation to find out who was behind the explosion and what type of explosives was used.

Earlier, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that the explosion was apparently carried out by a suicide bomber.

According to the newspaper, the terrorist blew him up near a group of foreign tourists.

The terrorist attack version continues to be one of the main, but there has been no official statement yet from the authorities on the causes of the explosion.

Press attache of the Russian Embassy in Ankara Igor Mityakov told TASS that "at the moment there was no information on whether Russian citizens could be affected by the explosion."

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