Two bombs exploded outside a major soccer stadium in Istanbul after fans had gone home Saturday night
Air Presto Mid Utility , killing 15 people and wounding dozens, a Turkish official said, citing health ministry figures. One of the blasts was thought to be a suicide bomber.
Police cordoned off the area as smoke rose from behind the newly built Vodafone Arena Stadium
Air Presto Mid , known colloquially as Besiktas Stadium after the local team. Witnesses also heard gunfire after the explosions. The second blast was thought to be a car bomb.
"We have once again witnessed tonight in Istanbul the ugly face of terror which tramples on every value and decency," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement.
The official who gave the toll of 15 dead and dozens wounded spoke on condition anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly on the issue. He cited health ministry figures.
The first and larger explosion took place about 10:30 p.m. after the home team Besiktas beat visitor Bursaspor 2-1 in the Turkish Super League. Erdogan said the timing of the attack aimed to maximize the loss of life and vowed the nation would overcome terrorism.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. This year, Istanbul has witnessed bombings attributed by authorities to the Islamic State group or claimed by Kurdish militants. A state of emergency is in force following a failed July 15 coup attempt.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu
Air Presto Essential , who gave an initial wounded toll of 20 police officers, rushed from Ankara to Istanbul.
"It is thought to be a car bomb at a point where our special forces police were located, right after the match at the exit where Bursaspor fans" had earlier left
Air Presto Mens , Soylu was quoted as saying by Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency.
Speaking later to reporters in Istanbul, he said the first explosion took place on a hill adjacent to and overlooking the stadium. The second explosion struck Macka Park and was believed to be a suicide bomb.
The private NTV channel reported that the target of the first attack was a bus for riot police and said nearly 70 wounded were taken to hospitals.
Television images showed more than a dozen ambulances on a street hugging the stadium and a police helicopter flying overhead with its searchlights on. The window glass of nearby buildings was shattered by the blasts and coated the pavement. Investigators, including Istanbul Police Chief Mustafa Caliskan
Air Presto , were quickly on the scene.
Taxi driver Ismail Coskun said the force of the explosion caused him to hit his head on the taximeter and that his ears were still ringing from the blast and screaming that followed.
"Amid the screams I heard an officer saying 'do not shout! Do not make them (the perpetrators) be satisfied," he told The AP.
Turkish official: 15 killed, dozens wounded in twin bombings
The Besiktas sports club "strongly condemned" the attack in a statement posted on its website while Bursaspor reported that none of the wounded were fans and issued a statement wishing "a speedy recovery to our wounded citizens."
Aleksander Ceferin
Nike Presto Sale , president of European soccer's governing body UEFA, and European Union Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, also made statements condemning the attack.
"Violence has no place in a democratic society
Nike Presto Shoes ," Hahn wrote on Twitter.
The U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, meanwhile, urged its citizens to avoid the area which is also home to a Ritz Carlton hotel.
Turkey's radio and television board issued a temporary coverage ban citing national security concerns. It said "to avoid broadcasts that can result in public fear
Nike Presto Mid Utility , panic or chaos, or that will serve the aims of terrorist organizations."
HONG KONG, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The 2016 Venetian Macao golf open will see one of the strongest fields ever assembled in its 17-year history when the tournament tees off from October 13 to 16 at the scenic Macau Golf & Country Club, announced organizers here on Tuesday.
World number 13 Branden Grace and the 2014 Venetian Macao Open Champion Anirban Lahiri will join a host of world-class players including 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke to try and dethrone Australia's defending champion Scott Hend.
South African Grace, who has risen over 100 places in the world rankings after a solid season that includes two tournament wins and two top-five finishes at Majors, is excited to be making his debut in Macao.
"I am very much looking forward to going to Macao and competing there for the first time. I don't get to play in Asia very often and with golf growing so fast over there, it is always interesting for me to head out to that part of the world to test myself and compete at the best tournaments such as the Venetian Macao Open." said Grace.
"The Venetian Macao Open will be a difficult but satisfying tournament to win. Scott (Hend) has proven to be almost unbeatable the last several years, and I heard Darren Clarke is coming out too. Together with the top Asian players, there will be a good mix of high quality golfers to compete against, so I am going to make sure I am ready, keep performing well and hopefully continue to climb the rankings," added Grace.
Indian star Lahiri, winner of the Asian tour order of Merit in 2015, has been Hend's arch rival over the last three years and took turns to hold aloft the famous trophy.
"The Venetian Macao Open is one of my favorite stops on tour and I have always enjoyed my time at the Macau Golf and Country Club. Scott and I get on very well on and off the course and we seem to always bring the best out of each other in Macao. Scott has had a great run in previous years and I hope to even the score this year with a solid performance," said Lahiri.
Inaugurated in 1998, the Venetian Macao gold open has developed into one of the most prestigious professional golf tournaments in the re.