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ISTANBUL —A bomb explosion at a popular Istanbul shopping center Sunday has left at least six people dead and more than 50 others injured. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the attack had what he called "the smell of terror."
Ambulances rushed the injured to nearby hospitals while police secured the blast scene. Istiklal Avenue - in the heart of Istanbul - was packed with locals and tourists when the powerful blast ripped through the area at around 4:20 p.m. local time.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to reporters after the blast.
He said, "First of all, I would like to express my condolences to those who were killed in the bomb attack and wish a speedy recovery to those who were wounded in Istiklal Avenue today."
Kurdish separatists and Islamic militants have bombed Turkish cities in the past. Erdogan said Sunday's blast was likely due to terrorism.
He said, "It would be wrong to say.... 'This is undoubtedly a terrorist attack.' But the initial developments and initial intelligence from my governor is that it smells like terrorism."
Erdogan also said those who engaged in terrorism against Turkey were defeated in the past and would be in the future. The Turkish leader pledged that those responsible for Sunday's blast would be found and punished.
So far, no one has claimed responsibility.
In 2015 and 2016, the Islamic State militant group carried out a wave of fatal bombings in Istanbul, targeting tourists, including Istiklal Avenue, the scene of Sunday's explosion.
The 2016 attack killed at least five people including two Israelis and two Americans.
Turkish authorities have imposed strict controls on local media reporting on Sunday's explosion.