Bomb blasts target police near Istanbul sports stadium, killing 29

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By BNO NEWS

Two explosions and gunfire have targeted riot police outside the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul, killing at least 29 people and injuring nearly 170 others, officials and witnesses say. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The attack happened at about 10:28 p.m. local time on Saturday when two large explosions occurred in front of the Vodafone Arena, which is the home stadium of BeÅŸiktaÅŸ J.K. The blasts were heard across parts of the city.

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said vehicles carrying riot police were hit by a car bomb while a suicide bomber blew himself up nearby. Police appear to have been the target of the attack as a football match had ended about 90 minutes earlier and most visitors had already left the area.

Soylu confirmed on early Sunday that at least 29 people had been killed, including 27 police officers and 2 civilians. Another 166 people are being treated at area hospitals, including 10 people who remain in a critical condition.

Photos from the scene showed heavily damaged vehicles and police helmets which were scattered across the road.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday’s deadly attack, but Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants are known to target security forces. Turkish authorities have yet to name a suspect.

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