Several dead and injured after explosion hits Turkey’s Istanbul

Eleven people have been reportedly wounded in a blast on Istiklal Avenue in Turkey’s biggest city.

The blast left people dead and injured, a senior official has said.

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya tweeted that the explosion occurred at about 4:20 pm (13:20 GMT) on Sunday and that there were deaths and injuries, but he did not say how many.

The cause of the explosion was not clear.

The avenue is a crowded thoroughfare popular with tourists and locals, lined by shops and restaurants.