Istanbul bombing: Two Americans killed in suspected Isil terror attack

One Iranian and two dual Israeli-American citizens also die in the latest attack to hit Turkey, in which 36 people were also injured in suicide bombing

Turkey was again rocked by another explosion in the heart of Istanbul after a suicide bombing killed two Americans among five dead on Saturday.
An attacker who may be linked to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) detonated the bomb on Istiklal avenue, the main pedestrian shopping street often bustling with tourists.
The bombing, outside a local government office near cafes and foreign consulates, left 36 injured, seven of whom were in a serious condition. At least 12 wounded were foreign nationals, the Turkish health minister said.
Turkey has been hit by a spate of bombings linked to Isil and Kurdish militant groups since summer last year, but in recent months, the situation has deteriorated.



'Heinous attack'
The White House confirmed on Saturday night that Americans, who were dual Israeli citizens, were killed in a statement in which Ned Price, a spokesman for the National Security Council condemned the "heinous attack".
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those killed, and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured," he said.
Emmanuel Nahshon, a spokesman for Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed one of the Israeli victims was a 60-year-old woman, part of a group of 14 Israeli tourists on a culinary tour, the Washington Post reported.
At least 11 other Israeli tourists were injured after they had just finished eating their breakfast.
Irish citizens were among the wounded said Charlie Flanagan, the Irish minister for trade and foreign affairs, as he described his "horror and sadness" at the attack.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) condemned the "unacceptable and inexcusable attack", which it described as "a terrorist act that directly targets civilians".

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