Blast in Istanbul kill six inuring many, Turkey remains stunned

An explosion on a busy street in the Taksim Square area of central Istambul killed at least six people, injuring dozens on Sunday, BBC reported quoting Turkish authorities.

Victims of the blast included among others a government ministry employee and his young daughter.

BBC reported of a heavy police presence in the area which is usually a bustling place for shopping.

A suspect was arrested and Vice-President Fuat Oktay termed the blast a "terrorist attack carried out by a woman".

Condemning what he said as "vile attack", President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to punish the perpetrators, adding that "the smell of terror" was in the air, according to the report.

The Turkish media reported quoting Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag that a woman who had sat on a bench in the area for more than 40 minutes left just minutes before the blast.

Authorities on Monday morning reported the arrest of the person suspected of having left the bomb.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu accused the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which clamours for an independent Kurdish state within Turkey, of responsibility.

However, no outfit has so far claimed the responsibility for the attack.

BBC correspondent Orla Guerin who reported from the area said shopkeepers in the normally bustling street looked stunned.

Following the attack that sent shock ways across Turkey, condolences and support poured in from around the world with the US stating that it stood " shoulder-to-shoulder' with Turkey in fighting terrorism.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in Turkish to say that French people as sharing pain of Turkish people and declared France would be with the nation in the fight against terrorism.

Others to offer condolence and support include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and nations including Pakistan, Italy and Greece.