The death toll in a series of blasts that rocked the Turkish
largest city of Istanbul Thursday rose to 27, and some 450 were
injured, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Five explosions took place in Istanbul Thursday morning, which
were targeted at British interests in the city.
One of the bombings occurred near the British Consulate General
and another near the Turkish headquarters of the London-based HSBC
bank.
Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said initial findings
showed the explosions were launched with the same method as that
used in the attacks against two synagogues in Istanbul on
Saturday.
Cicek said two explosions occurred around 11:00 a.m. (0900
GMT), one of which was in front of the British Consulate General
and the other in the Levent district.
The Turkish Interior Ministry, Istanbul Governor, State Security
Court Prosecutor and all other security and intelligence
organizations are carrying out investigations, Cicek said.
Local Star TV channel reported that a huge crater was seen in
front of British Consulate General in Istanbul after the blast.
Rescue teams were searching for survivors and dead bodies under
the rubble, the report said.
The entrance hall of the Consulate was demolished and window
frames were smashed into debris.
The explosion caused major damage in workplaces around the
Consulate building and windows of nearby shops and St. Antuan
Church on Istiklal Street were also shattered.
Meanwhile, a police helicopter was flying over the city, the
report said.
Istanbul's Gold Exchange was closed after the blasts and
transactions have been suspended till a second announcement, the
report said.
Straw condemns blast at UK consulate in
Istanbul
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw Thursday strongly condemned
the blast at the British consulate in Turkey's Istanbul.
The blast bears the hallmarks of an al Qaida terror
attack, Straw told reporters.
(Xinhua News Agency November 20)