Istanbul bomb attack on police vehicle kills 11

At least 11 people have been killed in a car bomb attack targeting a police vehicle in central Istanbul, the latest in a series of terror attacks in Turkey.

The explosion occurred at a busy intersection in the Vezneciler district during morning rush-hour, near Istanbul University and the Grand Bazaar, a popular tourist attraction in the historic Sultanahmet district.

The Istanbul governor, Vasip Şahin, said a parked car packed with explosives was detonated by remote control the moment a bus carrying riot police personnel passed by.

Seven of those killed were police officers, he said, and three of the 36 injured remained in a critical condition. 

The explosion destroyed the police bus, damaged nearby cars and buildings, and blew out windows on shops and hotels more than 50 metres (164ft) from the blast site, The Guardian reports.

Turkey has been on a high security alert after two deadly attacks in Istanbul this year blamed on Islamic State jihadis, and twin attacks in Ankara that killed dozens and were claimed by Kurdish militants.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday’s blast, and Turkish authorities issued a broadcast ban on the attack. Hours after the explosion, police detained four people for questioning for their possible involvement, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. The suspects were taken to Istanbul’s main police headquarters, the report said, without providing further details.