Explosions ripped through the narrow streets near Istanbul's largest synagogue on Saturday, killing 11 people, Turkish television reported.  

The blasts went off near the Neve Shalom synagogue, the city's largest. Private NTV television said the explosions were triggered by a natural gas leak, while CNN-Turk said police were investigating the possibility that it was an attack.

Firefighters reported 11 dead and several more injured, CNN-Turk reported.

In 1986, gunmen killed 22 worshippers and wounded six during a Sabbath service at the synagogue.

(China Daily November 15, 2003)