Explosions hit near major soccer stadium in Istanbul

December 10, 2016

ISTANBUL — Two explosions hit Saturday night outside a major soccer stadium in Istanbul, after fans had gone home.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement saying “unfortunately we have martyrs and wounded” but did not specify the number. A Turkish government source told CBS News that 15 were dead and 69 wounded.

The private NTV channel reported that the target of the first attack was a bus for riot police. One of the blasts was thought to be a car bomb, while the second appeared to be a suicide bomber.

Police cordoned off the area as smoke rose from behind the newly built Vodafone Arena Stadium, known colloquially as Besiktas Stadium after the local team and neighborhood. Witnesses also heard gunfire after the explosions.

The first and larger explosion took place about 10:30 p.m. after the home team Besiktas beat visitor Bursaspor 2-1 in the Turkish Super League. Officials gave no immediate details on the nature of the second explosion, which sounded like it came from the same area.

A video posted on social media appeared to show the moment of the blast with a fireball rising from the ground in the distance. It was followed several seconds later by a series of violent booms.

The big question is who might be responsible if it is indeed what it looks like: a terror attack, CBS News’ Holly Williams reported from Istanbul. Turkey over the last couple of years has suffered a spate of suicide and car bombings — some attributed to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and others carried out by Kurdish militants.

ISIS released an audio recording earlier this week calling on its followers to attack Turkish interests wherever possible, including security, military and the media, Williams reports.

The U.S. Consul General in Istanbul, Jennifer L. Davis, issued a statement to CBS News calling the bombings acts of terrorism. “The United States condemns tonight’s cowardly attack and stands with the people of Turkey in the fight against terrorism,” the statement read.

However, there was no immediate claim of responsibility either from ISIS or any other group or individual. In cases of terror attacks carried out by Kurdish militants over the last couple of years, security forces and the police have been a frequent target.

“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,” Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu was quoted as saying by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency.

He said the explosion took place on a hill adjacent to and overlooking the stadium.

Turkish policemen at the site of an explosion in central Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 10, 2016.

REUTERS

Television images showed more than a dozen ambulances on a street hugging the stadium and a police helicopter flying overhead with its searchlights on. The window glass of nearby buildings was shattered by the blasts and coated the pavement. Investigators, including Istanbul Police Chief Mustafa Caliskan, were quickly on the scene.

The Besiktas sports club “strongly condemned” terrorism and the attack in a statement posted on its website.

Bursaspor said none of the wounded were fans and issued a statement saying “we wish a speedy recovery to our wounded citizens.”

Turkey’s radio and television board issued a temporary coverage ban citing national security concerns. It said “to avoid broadcasts that can result in public fear, panic or chaos, or that will serve the aims of terrorist organizations.”

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin were also notified about the attack, Anadolu said.