Suicide bomber targets heart of Istanbul’s tourist district
A female suicide bomber has blown herself up in the heart of Istanbul’s tourist area, killing a police officer and injuring another.
The woman walked into a police station in the historic area of Sultanahmet, close to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, two of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.
The woman, who died in the attack, spoke English with "a thick accent", according to the BBC, but Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin told Turkish TV she has not yet been identified.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which was the second in less than a week.
Last Thursday, a man threw grenades and fired a weapon at police near the prime minister’s office, but no-one was hurt.
Sahin told TV crews that in the latest attack a woman wearing a niqab walked into a police station and told officers she had lost her wallet before blowing herself up.
The UK Foreign Office warns there is a high threat from terrorism in Turkey. In an update to its usual travel advice yesterday it said: "On 6 January 2015, a Turkish police building in Istanbul’s main tourist district, Sultanahmet was targeted by a suicide bomber. The assailant died in the attack along with a Turkish police officer. If you’re in this area you should follow the advice of the local authorities."
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
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements