Seven hurt in suspected Istanbul gas blast

At least seven people were injured in Turkey today in a suspected gas explosion at a snack bar in the centre of Istanbul.

The blast collapsed the roof of the Elmas cafe near Taksim square and shattered windows in shops and cars in the area.

Mayor Mustafa Sarigul said a leak from a gas canister used for cooking was “the most likely cause” of the explosion. Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said it was caused by someone lighting a match.

“We thought the world was collapsing on top of us,” said Sukru Sogut, a taxi driver who was driving past at the time of the blast.

Another witness said she saw refrigerators being blown out of the snack bar by the force of the blast.

The explosion came just two days after a suspected left wing female terrorist blew herself up in a cafe in the capital Ankara, apparently when a bomb she was carrying went off prematurely.

She was killed and another person was injured.