Turkey blames PKK for 'vile attack'
Turkey's vice president said he assumed the blast was a "terrorist attack" that was likely carried out by a woman. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the person who planned the attack had been arrested.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told Turkey's state Anadolu news agency on Monday that the person who planned a deadly attack in central Istanbul had been arrested and claimed the Kurdish PKK group was behind the blast.
"According to our findings, the PKK terrorist organisation is responsible," Soylu said.
At least six people were killed and 81 injured Sunday by the bombing, according to Turkish authorities.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the blast was a "vile attack."
"It would be wrong to say this is undoubtedly a terrorist attack but the initial developments and initial intelligence from my governor is that it smells like terrorism," he told a news conference.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay later said he assumed the blast was a "terrorist attack" that appeared to have been carried out by a woman.
Anadolu reported that five prosecutors were assigned to investigate the cause of the blast.
Istiklal street rocked by explosion
Videos shared on social media showed multiple people on the ground amid blast damage. The footage showed an ambulance and police arriving on the scene.
Turkish media reports indicated the blast occurred at 4:20 p.m. local time (1330 GMT). Video posted online taken at the time of the blast showed a fireball overwhelming the crowded street as pedestrians strolled before abruptly turning, many running scared.