Pipe bomb explosion at Istanbul train station kills one

Turkey has been on high alert since more than 100 people were killed by two suicide bombers in the capital Ankara in October – three months after a similar attack at a town near the Syrian border in July left 33 dead.

Bayrampasa is a residential and industrial area on the European side of Istanbul.

Another broadcaster earlier reported that one person had been killed but Aydiner confirmed only five injuries.

Grainy CCTV footage showed a large flash of light on the overpass followed by what appeared to be burning embers showering to the ground as cars drove below.

Photographs on social media showed dozens of people walking alongside overground train tracks after trains had been halted.

Although Istanbul's metro is largely underground, it runs above ground in some places, including around Bayrampasa.

Tuesday's blast was much smaller than the ones in Ankara and the town of Suruc near the Syrian border, which are believed to have been carried out by Islamic State militants.

Turkey, a NATO member, has carried out air strikes against the Islamist insurgents in neighbouring Syria as part of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the jihadist movement.

It also faces security threats from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), whose militants often attack police and security in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast, and the far-left Revolutionary People's Liberation Army-Front (DHKP-C).

The DHKP-C, which is considered a terrorist organisation by the United States and Ankara, said that one of its members was involved in an attack on the U.S. consulate in August.

Initial reports had indicated today's blast was caused by a power transformer.

According to officials train operations had been suspended at Bayrampasa subway immediately after a loud bang was heard.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said several ambulances were sent to the area after the explosion.

Earlier Istanbul Gov. Vasip Sahin said at least one person was slightly injured.

"The cause of the explosion is not known. We are assessing every possibility," said Sahin.

(dailystar.co.uk)