An Israeli security official has addressed the terror attack which killed 6 and injured 81 on Sunday afternoon on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Israeli security official stated: "Our recommendation is to stay inside your hotels until things clear up, and listen to the Turkish security officials' recommendations and instructions."
The Israeli official also instructed Israelis in the city to "Update family of your location, refrain from sharing your location on social media, stay away from gatherings and protests, stay alert, hide your Israeli identity, don't get into unidentified vehicles, and so on. We reiterate that Turkey is under a level 3 travel warning, which is the medium level, and therefore we recommend refraining from non-essential travel.
The president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, addressed the attack in a statement on Sunday evening: "Shaken by news of the despicable bombing in Istanbul targeting innocent civilians. On behalf of the Israeli people, I extend our deepest sympathies to our Turkish friends and the victims' families. The whole world must stand united and firm against terror."
On Sunday afternoon, an explosion hit central Istanbul on Sunday leaving at least six people dead and 81 injured, according to local reports.
Turkish media published a picture of a woman who is suspected of taking part in the attack. According to reports, the source of the explosion was a handbag and not a suicide bomb as originally suspected. The suspect can be seen wearing camouflaged pants and a headscarf.
Turkish media has said several people have been killed and injured in a suspected suicide bombing on Istiklal Avenue, close to the city's Taksim Square.
CC footage captured the moment of the explosion.
A video posted online showed flames erupting and a loud bang, as pedestrians turned and ran away.
Other footage showed ambulances, fire trucks, and police at the scene. The cause of the explosion was not clear. Social media users said shops were shuttered and the avenue closed down.
Earlier, broadcaster CNN Turk said 11 people were injured. The avenue is a crowded thoroughfare popular with tourists and locals, lined by shops and restaurants. The explosion occurred at about 4:20 p.m. (1330 GMT).
The Israeli citizen who was reported as unaccounted for has been located and there are currently no Israelis that missing.
The Israel Foreign Ministry has released a statement: "The department for Israelis overseas in the consular wing of the Foreign Ministry and the Israeli consulate in Istanbul are checking if there were any Israelis involved in the incident. We will release an update about any developments."
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid tweeted Sunday night his condolences to the families of the victims killed in the bombing.
"I want to send my condolences, in the name of the government of Israel, to the people of Turkey after the terrible terror attack that occurred on Istanbul, and to offer my support for the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and to the Turkish government. We will fight terror together, with a strong hand, anywhere terror raises its head."
In 2016 three Israelis: Simcha Damari, Avraham Goldman, and Yonatan Shor were murdered in a suicide bombing carried out by an ISIS terrorist on the same street where today's bombing occurred.