Photo: AA
An explosion occurred at around 4.20 p.m. today (November 13) on İstiklal Avenue, a busy pedestrian street in the popular tourist area of Taksim in İstanbul.
Police, ambulances and firefighters were dispatched to the spot where the explosion took place, which is near the Taksim Square.
The police set up a perimeter around the spot and Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue was evacuated.
İstanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya announced on Twitter about half an hour after the incident that there were casualties. He said in a second tweet that at least four people had died and 38 had been injured.
The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has issued a broadcast ban on TV channels regarding the incident.
İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu visited the scene of the incident, where he told reporters that the police are evaluating various scenarios about the cause of the explosion.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the injured people are being treated in nearby hospitals.
Erdoğan: A suspected act of terrorism
6.30 p.m. Speaking to reporters at around 6.15 p.m., President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the incident could be a suspected act of terrorism, citing initial findings.
"While it would be wrong to say it was definitely terrorism, according to the initial examinations, there is a smell of terrorism. There are findings that a woman took part in this incident. We'll make the final determination following the examination of camera footage," he said at the Atatürk Airport before taking off for Indonesia.
Restriction on social media platforms
8.00 p.m. The Information Technologies and Communications Authority (BTK) has announced that it restricted the bandwith of social media platforms following the incident.
Twitter users report slowed connection, with many say they have switched to VPN connections.
YouTube, Facebook and Instagram have also been affected by the restriction, according to NetBlocks, a platform following internet censorship globally.
Investigation into social media posts
8.04 p.m. The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Investigation Bureau for Terror Crimes has launched an investigation into "negative social media posts" about the explosion, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
Politicians express condolences
8.08 p.m. Several politicians and political parties have condemned the explosion and offered condolences for the people of Türkiye.
"I wish God's mercy for our citizens who lost their live in the explosion that occurred on İstiklal Avenue and wish a speedy recovery for those who have been injured," tweeted Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
In a written statement, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said, "We feel deep pain and sorrow because of the explosion that caused six citizens of ours to lose their lives and 53 to be injured. Our sorrow and pain is great, we wish God's mercy for our citizens who lost their lives."
İYİ (Good) Party Chair Meral Akşener also expressed sorrow for the incident on Twitter, also writing, "I strongly condemn this vile attack. We would like to help the perpetrators to be found as soon as possible."
Also expressing his sadness for the casualties, İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu called on the citizens no to credit "misleading information" about the incident.
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Justice Minister: Perpetrators will be found
8.09 p.m. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said on Twitter that eight public prosecutors and two deputy chief public prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the incident.
"The incident is being effectively investigated in all aspects. No one should doubt that our security forces will identify the perpetrator ro the perpetrators and catch them as soon as possible," he wrote.
Only state media and one agency allowed on İstiklal Avenue
8.41 p.m. The police only allowed reporters for state-run media outlets — the public broadcaster TRT and Anadolu Agency — and the İhlas News Agency (İHA) on İstiklal Avenue, the Evrensel newspaper reported.
A video released by Evrensel shows police removing the barrices at the entrance of the street for some reporters, while not answering another journalist's question that "Why is there a difference between press outlets?"
Number of injuries updated as 81
8.45 p.m. Vice-President Fuat Oktay has said that the number of the injured was found to be 81, with two in serious condition.
A woman suspect is believed to have detonated a bomb, he added.
Reason for broadcast ban is "to prevent panic"
8.52 p.m. Presidency Communications Director Fahrettin Altun has said that the purpose of the broadcast ban on the explosion was to "prevent panic among the public" and "prevent broadcasts that may serve the purpose of terrorist organizations."
"In this process, we invite media organizations to be responsible, not to rely on disinformative content originating from social media, and to take the statements of relevant public authorities as a basis," he wrote on Twitter.
The ban was issued by the judgeship upon a request from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Reactions from the world
10.18 p.m. Reactions from world leaders, international organizations and diplomatic missions in Türkiye
Ministry personnel among the killed
10.45 p.m. A civil servant with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and his daughter were among those who were killed in the explosion, Minister Derya Yanık announced on Twitter. "We have lost our colleague Yusuf Meydan and his daughter Ecrin," she wrote, offering condolences to their family.
Some of the injured have been discharged
10.53 Vice President Fuat Oktay, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu arrived in Taksim as President Erdoğan earlier flew to Indonesia.
Speaking to reporters there, Oktay said 39 of the injured had been discharged from hospitals. Five people are in intensive care with two in critical condition, he added.
Minister: Footage suggests planted bomb
11.34 p.m. The explosion might be caused by a planted bomb, the justice minister said.
"A woman sits on one of the banks there for 40 minutes, and then she leaves. One or two minutes after she left, the explosion occurres," said Bekir Bozdağ.
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Police identify 25 social media users sharing "provocative posts"
11.42 p.m. The General Directorate of Security (EGM) announced that it had identified 25 people who shared "provocative posts" about the incident and reported their names to the relevant authorities. Earlier, prosecutors launched an investigation into "negative posts" about the incident.
Today's live coverage has concluded. You can follow the latest developments about the bombing here.
(VK/PE)
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