11 die in explosion in Istanbul

Explosions rocked central Istanbul today, not far from the city’s largest synagogue, killing 11 people and injuring several others, CNN-Turk television said.

NTV television said the explosions were triggered by a natural gas leak. The fire department said at least 11 people were killed in the explosions, CNN-Turk reported.

But CNN-Turk 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.