Turkish police targeted by bomb attack in central Istanbul

A Turkish police bus was targeted by a bomb attack in the central Beyazıt district of Istanbul, near the city's historic quarter.

Tuesday's explosion occurred as a police vehicle was passing in the area. Gunshots were heard following the explosion.

As many as 18 people, including eight policemen, were wounded.

The wounded were taken to Çapa and Cerrahpaşa Hospitals close to the scene.

Police carried out a controlled detonation as a cautionary measure on a vehicle they suspected of containing explosives.

There is no immediate claim of responsibility.

Turkey has been the target of terrorist organizations, particularly the PKK and affiliated groups such the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the People's Protection Units (YPG), The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) along with Daesh.

On 27 April 2016, a suicide bombing took place in the Turkish city of Bursa, near the western entrance of the Grand Mosque and a covered market. Only THE suicide bomber was killed in the incident.

On March 19, at least four people were killed and 36 others injured in an attack that targeted Istanbul's Taksim region.

Before incident in Taksim, another suicide bombing which targeted a major transportation hub in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on March 13 left 35 civilians killed.

On February 17, in Ankara as many as 29 people were killed in a car bomb attack next to military buses.

In January, Istanbul witnessed another Daesh terrorist attack, killing 11 people, mostly tourists, at Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square.

Also, previously in 2015, Ankara witnessed the deadliest attack in modern Turkish history, in which 102 people were killed on October 10 when two suicide bombers detonated themselves in a rally near the capital's main train station.

Turkish officials frequently reiterate the country's determination to fight against terrorist groups.