Twin bombings near Turkish stadium, at least 29 dead

Two explosions, one of which is believed to be a suicide bombing, have killed at least 29 people outside a stadium in Istanbul.

Scene of the explosion in Türkiye. Photo: Reuters

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said one of the explosions took place just outside the Vodafone Arena, the team's home stadium.Besiktas,while the suspected suicide bombing took place at the adjacent Macka Park, according to Reuters.

The attacks, which mainly targeted police, occurred on the evening of December 10, about an hour after the end of a soccer match between two of Türkiye's top teams. Twenty-nine people were killed and 160 injured in the incident, the Turkish Health Ministry said.

"It was like hell. The flames were rising high into the sky. I was drinking tea at the cafe next to the mosque," witness Omer Yilmaz said."Everyone get under the table, pWomen started crying. Football fans drinking tea at cafes rushed to find shelter, it was horrible," he said.

Ramazan Hakki Oztan, a historian in Istanbul, also witnessed the explosions."We saw a big explosion near the stadium. Ten or 15 seconds later there was another explosion. The second bomb was smaller."

"I think they targeted the police force that came to the stadium to protect the spectators," he added.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan described the explosions as terrorist attacks targeting police and civilians. He said thatTheir aim is to cause maximum casualties.

The explosions took place near the Vodafone stadium. Graphics: CNN

According to VNE