A double bomb attack has killed at least 13 people and wounded 70 others in Istanbul, Turkey.
The bombs went off several minutes apart on Sunday evening in the shopping district of Gungoren, on the western bank of the city. Witnesses say many people were hurt by the second blast as they gathered at the scene of the first explosion.
Emergency workers rushed to the scene to treat the casualties.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bomb attack.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. - VOA
Radio Netherladns reports that "Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler says the explosions were caused by bomb attacks. The first explosion occurred in a telephone booth; the second more power bomb was detonated in the vicinity a few minutes later as crowds began to gather."
The video coverage of the Istanbul explosion shown from CNN says that the explosion happened in a residential area.
Today's Zaman reports that "Kurdish, leftist and Islamist militants are active in İstanbul and have carried out bombings in the city in the past.
Many people were injured in the second blast after they rushed to the area to help people following the first explosion.
"The first explosion was not very strong," said Hüseyin Şentürk, who owns a shoe shop in the area. "Several people came to see what was going on. That's when the second explosion occurred and it injured many onlookers."
While the Kurds are the first to be pointed out at this according to the Turkish media, it is hard to say. Right now we know that in Turkey there are dynamic political developments going in regard to Ergenekon indictment.
Therefore; the upcoming political developments in the next few days will show who is behind the attacks. It's hard to believe the attack comes from Kurdish side as Turkey is making a new overture to having zero problems with neighbors.
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