Istanbul subway trains halted after possible explosion

Train service at an Istanbul subway station in the Bayrampasa district was halted following a loud noise, the news came alongside initial local media reports of an explosion, according to Reuters.

One Turkish TV broadcaster later said the explosion had occurred at a power transformer.

Turkish broadcaster NTV said the explosion on the overpass near the metro station might have been caused by a bomb, SkyNews reported.

Indeed, according to the mayor of the Bayrampasa district the cause of the explosion was a bomb, Reuters would say later, adding that five people were injured.

Speaking to A Haber television, mayor Atilla Aydiner said the explosion was caused by a pipe bomb which was placed at the height of rush hour.