Several injured in Istanbul car bomb blast

Six soldiers and a civilian have been wounded after an explosives-laden car blew up near a military base in Turkey's port city of Istanbul, the latest in a spate of bombings this year.

According to the reports, the blast targeted a military service vehicle which was passing through Sancaktepe district on the Asian side of Istanbul on Thursday.

Television channels showed footage of the almost completely destroyed the military vehicle, with yellow flames rising from the debris.

The blast sent a cloud of black smoke up over the streets and ambulances were seen rushing to the scene.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the explosion yet.

Major Turkish cities have witnessed bombing attacks since last July when the country launched a military campaign against militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the southeastern border areas.

The Turkish military has also been conducting offensives against the positions of the group in northern Iraq.

SS