土耳其总统埃尔多安说,伊斯坦布尔星期二发生的爆炸事件,据信是一名叙利亚自杀炸弹杀手干的。这次袭击事件造成至少10人丧生,15人受伤。
埃尔多安发表电视讲话,对这次袭击表示谴责,并说死难者中有土耳其人,也有外国人。
爆炸发生在伊斯坦布尔市苏丹艾哈迈德历史文化区,这里是重要的旅游区,是蓝顶清真寺和圣索菲亚大教堂等历史名胜的所在地。
目击者说,爆炸声音很响,能感到地面震动。
袭击事件发生后,土耳其总理达武特奥卢召开了紧急安全会议。
土耳其首都安卡拉一个火车站外去年10月份发生连环自杀炸弹爆炸,导致100多名参加集会的和平活动人士丧生。土耳其此后一直处于高度警戒状态。
土耳其政府还取消了安卡拉地区的新年庆祝活动计划。此前,有关部门拘留了两名据信阴谋发动自杀攻击的伊斯兰国组织嫌疑人。
土耳其战机参加了美国领导的针对叙利亚境内伊斯兰国极端分子的空中打击行动。
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says a Syrian suicide bomber is believed to be responsible for Tuesday’s blast in Istanbul that killed at least 10 people and wounded 15 others.
Erdogan condemned the attack in a televised address and said Turks and foreigners are among the dead.
The explosion hit Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district, a major tourist area that is home to attractions such as the Blue Mosque and Haga Sophia.
Witnesses described the blast as loud and said it shook the ground.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu convened an emergency security meeting after the attack.
Turkey has been on alert for attacks since an October double suicide bombing killed more than 100 people at a gathering of peace activists outside a train station in the capital, Ankara.
The government cancelled planned New Year’s celebrations in Ankara after detaining two suspected Islamic State members believed to be planning suicide attacks.
Turkish warplanes are taking part in the U.S.-led campaign of airstrikes targeting Islamic State militants in Syria.