Russia’s embassy in Ankara has offered its condolences over the terror attack in Istanbul’s Istiklal pedestrian street on Sunday.
"With deepest sorrow, we learnt that the explosion in the Istiklal street in Istanbul killed and wounded many people. We express sincere condolences to the families of those killed and to the Turkish people and we wish the soonest recovery to those injured," the embassy wrote on its Twitter account.
According to Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, the blast occurred in the Istikala Caddesi pedestrian street in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district at about 16:20 local time. According to official data, six people were killed and 81 more were injured. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that preliminary data indicated that it was a terror attack. Vice President Fuat Oktay said later that the terror attack was committed by a woman.
The Istiklal Caddesi, a pedestrian street with lots of restaurants, cafes, shops, hotels, and several museums is very popular both among the locals and among tourists. It runs 1.4 kilometers from the Taksim Square in Beyoglu in the European part of Istanbul toward the Golden Horn. Several diplomatic missions, including Russia’s consulate general, are located in this street.
