Turkey attack: At least 38 killed in suspected car bomb in Istanbul,150 wounded

Los Angeles : In an unfortunate incident, at least 38 people were killed and more than 150 injured in two massive bomb blasts in Istanbul.

As per media reports, the first explosion took place on a hill adjacent to and overlooking the Vodafone Arena – known colloquially as Besiktas Stadium around 10.30pm local time.

The attack was just after a major match between Besiktas and Bursaspor. The suicide bomber then struck in Macka park, right next to the arena.

Hours later, another suspicious package was discovered outside the stadium, and was detonated in a controlled explosion by security forces.

According to initial reports, most of the dead have been police officers, who were seriously wounded in the explosions.

Smoking coming; one bomb by the gumussuyu part; the second one seemed to be in macka park? #istanbul #bombing pic.twitter.com/e4cz6nDYzG

— Ramazan Hakki Oztan (@rhoztan) December 10, 2016

The attacks were condemned by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who called it a ‘terrorist attack against security forces and citizens’.

‘A terrorist attack has been carried out against our security forces and our citizens. It has been understood that the explosions after the Besiktas-Bursaspor football game aimed to maximise casualties. As a result of these attacks unfortunately we have martyrs and wounded.’

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu also issued a statement branding the attacks as a ‘cruel plot’.

‘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 fans exited, after the fans had left. We have no information on the number of dead. God willing we hope there won’t be any. The wounded are police.’

Witnesses said police were deployed and had cordoned off the area.