23 killed in Istanbul blast

Twenty-three people have been killed and several injured after explosions rocked downtown Istanbul, not far from the city's largest synagogue, private CNN-Turk television has reported.

Private NTV television said the explosions were triggered by a natural gas leak, used to heat houses and for cooking.

The fire department said at least 23 people were killed in the explosions, CNN-Turk television reported.

But the television station said police were investigating whether the explosions were an attack.

The explosions went off not far from the Neve Shalom synagogue, the city's largest.

The synagogue was the sight of an attack by gunmen in 1986. The gunmen, believed to be Palestinians, killed 22 worshippers and wounded six during a Sabbath service.

One of the explosions was near the synagogue and a second occurred just near the Beth Israel synagogue in the affluent district of Sisli, about 3.1 miles away, reports said.

The fire department said more than 30 people were injured, CNN-Turk television reported.

Television footage showed a 1.6 yard crater near the Beth Israel synagogue and the building appeared to be severely damaged. The explosions shattered windows and car windscreens parked in the streets.

Medical teams carried several people on stretchers into ambulances, television footage showed.

Most watched News videos