11 killed in Istanbul car blast

Eleven people have been killed and 36 injured in a bomb attack targeting a Turkish police vehicle in central Istanbul, the city’s governor said.

The explosion took place near the city’s historic Beyazit Square neighbourhood, a major tourist attraction, and an Istanbul university building.

Istanbul’s Governor Vasip Sahin said 36 other people were injured.

Visiting some of the wounded in hospital, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “These [attacks] are being carried out against people whose duty it is to ensure the security of our people.”

“These cannot be pardoned or forgiven. We shall continue our fight against terrorists tirelessly until the end.”

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Kurdish militants have recently hit security targets.

In recent months, Turkey has been hit by bloody attacks at the hands of both Daesh and Kurdish militants, namely the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).