Turkish police say Syrian woman planted Istanbul bomb

ISTANBUL — Turkish police on Monday said they had arrested a Syrian woman for planting a bomb that killed six people in central Istanbul a day earlier, adding that she was working for Kurdish militants.

The woman is "of Syrian nationality," the private NTV television quoted the police as saying. She reportedly admitted to have received an order from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

Sunday's explosion occurred shortly after 4:00 p.m. (1300 GMT, 9 p.m. Philippines time) in the famous Istiklal shopping street, which is popular with locals and tourists.

According to images posted on social media at the time of the explosion, it was accompanied by flames and immediately triggered panic, with people running in all directions.

A large black crater was also visible in those images, as well as several bodies lying on the ground nearby.

Istiklal in the historic district of Beyoglu, is one of the most famous arteries of Istanbul, entirely pedestrian on 1.4 kilometers.

Criss-crossed by an old tramway, lined with shops and restaurants, it is used by large crowds during the weekend. — Agence France-Presse