UPDATE: Turkish security forces arrested ten suspects in Saturday night’s attack (Dec. 10) where 29 were killed, including 27 police officers; 166 more were injured in the blasts. There are unconfirmed reports from Turkey indicating that the PKK Kurdistan Workers’ Party terrorist organization may have been responsible for the attack, although there have been no claims from any group.
Two huge explosions — a suicide bomber and a car bomb — detonated near the newly-built Vodafone Arena in the Beşiktaş district of central Istanbul, Turkey’s Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said in a statement.
Soylu confirmed that one of the two bombings attacks were carried out in Maçka Park, the other on Beleştepe Street, next to the park. One was later confirmed to have been a car bomb, “at a point where Bursaspor fans exited, after the fans had left,” he said.
He added that the other was a suicide bombing. Most of the injured were police officers, according to the Daily Sabah.
At least 13 people were killed in the blast, according to a report by the UK-based BBC. The death toll is not being reported by Turkish media. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack thus far, according to Al Jazeera.
Israel’s Ambassador to Turkey, Eitan Na’eh, immediately condemned the attack in a tweet, wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded.
I condemn the hideous attack in Istanbul, and I wish speedy recovery to the injured.
— Eitan Na’eh (@AmbassadorNaeh) December 10, 2016
The explosions took place following a soccer match between Besiktas and the Bursaspor professional Turkish football (soccer) clubs.
Six prosecutors were assigned to the investigation according to the report, which added that Turkey’s media watchdog, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), has slapped a gag order on reporting the attack.
The U.S. Embassy condemned the attack in a tweet, as did the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul that urged citizens to avoid the area, “monitor local press reporting and let friends and family know you are OK.”
(1/2) Our hearts and prayers are with the people of tonight.
— US Embassy Turkey (@USEmbassyTurkey) December 10, 2016