Turkey's president Erdogan has blamed a suicide bomber who entered the country through Syria for an attack on a tourist site in Istanbul that killed 10 people and left another 15 wounded.
Nine of the victims were German according to Turkish officials. In a telephone call Prime minster Ahmet Davutoglu told the German Chancellor Angela Merkel that most of the victims were German.
One victim was Peruvian, foreign minister Ana Maria Sanchez told reporters, though she said the man had not yet been identified. She also said a Peruvian woman was wounded in the attack but in stable condition.
Merkel said she was very concerned that German citizens were “probably” be among the victims. “International terrorism is once again showing its cruel and inhuman face,” she said.
Turkey's deputy prime minister, Numan Kurtulmug, said the bomber was a 28-year-old man from Syria, though an unconfirmed report claims the bomber came from Saudi Arabia.
Officials said they believed the attack on the Sultanahmet area was the work of the Islamic State militants. No group has claimed responsibility so far.
Police sealed off the area near the Blue Mosque. A broadcast ban was also imposed.