At least 4 dead in suicide attack in Istanbul shopping hub

A suicide blast ripped through a top shopping district in Istanbul on Saturday, killing at least four people and injuring dozens, the second attack in the heart of Turkey’s major cities in a week.

 The sixth major bombing since July targeted Istiklal Caddesi, a bustling pedestrian street usually thronged with shoppers, tourists and buskers but which was still relatively quiet when the bomber struck at around 11:00 am (0900 GMT).

 Turkish media said three Israelis and one Iranian were killed, while two of the Israelis were also named by Washington as US citizens. CCTV footage circulated by Turkish media showed the alleged bomber wearing a long coat approaching a small group of people outside a local government building directly before the blast.