Blast rocks Istanbul metro, six injured

Istanbul, December 1

An explosion of unknown origin hit the Istanbul metro today, causing injuries and bringing the transport system in Turkey's largest city to a halt, reports and officials said.

The blast caused panic close to the metro station in the Bayrampasa district of Istanbul and injured at least six people, a TV channel said.

The channel said the blast may have been caused by a bomb, while other reports said the cause could be linked to an electrical transformer.

"The cause of the explosion is not clear. We are investigating all possibilities," Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin was quoted as saying by a state-run news agency.

"Metro services have been halted after a sound similar to an explosion was heard. Its cause remains unknown," the Istanbul municipality said. — AFP