At least 81 injuries have so far been reported in connection with the blast, according to authorities. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, visiting the site of the explosion, told reporters that the explosion was considered an act of terrorism and that a woman was behind the attack, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. Derya Yanik, Turkey’s minister of family and social services, said in a tweet that one of her colleagues and his daughter were two of the people killed in the explosion. Footage posted online showed ambulances, fire engines and police at the scene on Istiklal Avenue, a popular street with shops and restaurants that leads to the iconic Taksim Square. In one video, a loud bang could be heard and flames could be seen as the pedestrians turned and fled. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the blast a “treasonous attack” and said the perpetrators would be punished. White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre said the US “strongly condemns the act of violence that took place” in Istanbul. “Our thoughts are with those injured and our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our NATO ally Turkey in the fight against terrorism,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, also responded to the news of the blast and said the organization “stands in solidarity” with Turkey. “Shocking images from Istanbul,” Stoltenberg tweeted. “My thoughts and deepest condolences to all those affected and to the Turkish people. #NATO stands in solidarity with our ally #Türkiye.” In addition to the six people killed, Istanbul Governor Ali Gerlikaya initially said on Twitter that 53 others were injured — a casualty count that Erdogan also gave. Yerlikaya later told state news that the number had risen to 81, as did Erdogan and Oktay, according to Anadolu. Police and emergency service members work at the scene after an explosion on the busy Istiklal pedestrian street in Istanbul, Turkey, November 13, 2022. KEMAL ASLAN/Reuters Erdogan did not say who was behind the attack, but said there was a “smell of terror” without elaborating and also added that it was not yet completely certain. He said investigations are continuing by police and the governor’s office, including reviewing video from the area. Speaking at a press conference held before he left for Indonesia for the G20 summit, Erdogan said initial observations indicated a woman was involved in the attack and told reporters that whoever was responsible would be found, according to Anadolu. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag told pro-government A Haber television that investigators were focusing on a woman who sat on a bench next to the blast site for about 40 minutes. The explosion occurred minutes after she left. He said her identity was not yet clear, nor was it clear which group might be behind the attack.
Turkey was hit by a series of deadly bombings between 2015 and 2017 by the Islamic State group and outlawed Kurdish groups. More than 500 civilians and security personnel were killed in the attacks. Following these attacks, Turkey launched cross-border military operations in Syria and northern Iraq against Kurdish fighters, while also cracking down on Kurdish politicians, journalists and activists at home. While the Kurdish militants, known as the PKK, are considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, critics say Erdogan has also used broad terrorism laws to stifle free speech. More recently, Turkey enacted a controversial “misinformation law” that carries a prison sentence of up to three years for social media users who spread false information about domestic or international security, public order or health. Critics have said the article’s wording is so vague, it can be used to kill off dissent. Police announced on Sunday that they had identified 25 social media users who were sharing “provocative content” that could violate that law. In another example of the country’s restrictions on the press, Turkey’s media watchdog also imposed temporary restrictions on reporting on Sunday’s blast — a move that bans the use of close-up videos and photos of the blast and its aftermath. The Supreme Broadcasting Council has imposed similar bans in the past, following attacks and accidents. Access to Twitter and other social media sites was also restricted. French President Emmanuel Macron noted on Sunday that the Istanbul attack came exactly seven years after Islamic State militants killed 130 people in Paris cafes, the Bataclan theater and France’s national stadium. “On such a symbolic day for our nation, as we reflect on the victims of November 13, 2015, the Turkish people were struck by an attack in their heart, Istanbul,” Macron said. “To the Turks: We share your pain. We stand by your side in the fight against terrorism.”