Explosion Outside Turkish Stadium In Istanbul Causes Injuries
The blast was powerful enough to shake apartment buildings at least a mile away. BuzzFeed News reporter Mike Giglio is in Istanbul.
Murad Sezer / Reuters
An explosion outside a major sports stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday evening have injured numerous people.
At least 20 police officers were injured near the Besiktas Stadium, which had been hosting a soccer match, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said. There was no immediate confirmation of deaths.
In early statements, the Turkish government said that a car bomb targeted police officers outside the stadium who were on hand to provide security. Fans had already departed the night's match.
"It is thought to be a car bomb at a point where our special forces police were located, right after the match at the exit where Bursaspor [team] fans exited, after the fans had left," Soylu said in comments reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency and translated by the Associated Press. "We have no information on the number of dead. God willing we hope there won't be any. The wounded are police."
The attack was powerful enough to shake apartment buildings at least a mile away. Sirens sounded in the aftermath as fire trucks and ambulances rushed to the scene.
"You will not be able to get our people on their knees. We will crush the heads of all the traitors. May God be willing," Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli wrote on Twitter. "I wish for health for all the wounded from my God."
Witnesses reported hearing at least two explosions, but officials were yet to confirm there had been more than one blast.
A media blackout was imposed following the incident.
Murad Sezer / Reuters
"We have learned with deep sadness that many police members and our citizens have been wounded in the treacherous bombing attack in front of Istanbul Besiktas Vodafone Arena," the Turkish Football Federation said in a statement. "We strongly condemn this inhuman terror attack and wish speedy recoveries to all citizens wounded in this event."
Pictures shared on social media showed smoke rising from the stadium, while the scene around the stadium appeared busy with emergency workers.
One video shared on Twitter appeared to show a huge blast in the background.