Flags fly at half-mast as Turkey declares a day of National Mourning

At around 10.30 pm (19 30GMT) on Saturday evening, two explosions rocked Istanbul’s European side. Outside a football stadium in Istanbul’s Besiktas district, a car bomb was detonated two hours after the end of a Turkish league football match between Besiktas and Bursaspor.

Seconds later, a suicide bomb attack occurred in Macka Park in the same neighbourhood. The suicide bomber blew himself up after police noticed him, according to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.

A police vehicle with flowers is seen as people gather for the victims of Istanbul terror attacks near the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul’s Besiktas, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Onur Çoban / Anadolu Agency]

Women cry as people leave carnations for the victims of Istanbul terror attacks near the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul’s Besiktas, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Onur Çoban / Anadolu Agency]

A woman cries as people leave carnations for the victims of Istanbul terror attacks near the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul’s Besiktas, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Onur Çoban / Anadolu Agency]

Funeral ceremony is held for police officer Suleyman Sorkut, who was martyred during Istanbul terror attacks, in Siverek district of Sanliurfa, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [ Mehmet Fatih Aslan / Anadolu Agency]

Relatives of police officer Suleyman Sorkut, who was martyred during Istanbul terror attacks, mourn over the coffin during the funeral ceremony in Siverek district of Sanliurfa, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [ Mehmet Fatih Aslan / Anadolu Agency]

People gather to commemorate the victims of the yesterday’s Istanbul terror attacks on December 11, 2016 at the blast site in Istanbul, Turkey [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

People gather to commemorate the victims of the yesterday’s Istanbul terror attacks on December 11, 2016 at the blast site in Istanbul, Turkey [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

People gather to commemorate the victims of the yesterday’s Istanbul terror attacks on December 11, 2016 at the blast site in Istanbul, Turkey [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

People gather to commemorate the victims of the yesterday’s Istanbul terror attacks on December 11, 2016 at the blast site in Istanbul, Turkey [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish flags fly at half mast during a day of national mourning after the terror attacks near the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul’s Besiktas, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Cem Öksüz / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish flags fly at half mast during a day of national mourning after the terror attacks near the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul’s Besiktas, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Cem Öksüz / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish flags fly at half mast on December 11, 2016 [File photo by Cem Öksüz / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish flag in Istanbul, Turkey [Cem Öksüz /Anadolu Agency]

Turkish flags fly at half mast during a day of national mourning after the terror attacks near the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul’s Besiktas, Turkey on December 11, 2016 [Cem Öksüz / Anadolu Agency]