Bomb scare close to Istanbul’s Ritz Carlton
Unconfirmed reports claim police in Istanbul shot a suspected suicide bomber close to the city’s Ritz Carlton hotel on Saturday.
According to a report on eTN, a witness claimed a man wearing a suicide vest was shot in the leg and the bomb inside the vest went off. However, some reports claim police blew up a suspected package and others claim police shot a man wearing a backpack.
ETN publisher Juergen Steinmetz, who was staying in the luxury hotel close to the Dolmabahce Palace, reported hearing two loud explosions on Saturday night around 10.30pm.
Earlier, the police had sealed off roads between the Ritz Carlton and the sports stadium opposite. Traffic was diverted away from the scene, but the incident is not believed to be connected to the hotel.
Last month 10 German tourists were killed by a suicide bomber in Istanbul. Since then, cruise ships have cancelled stops in the city.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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