Istanbul explosion: 'Shaken' Skunk Anansie singer Skin says blast was outside her hotel

‘Many people injured, horrific scenes, building shook like paper,’ writes Skin

(Getty Images)

The lead singer of Skunk Anansie was inside a hotel in an Istanbul shopping area where a suicide bombing killed at least five people.

Deborah Dyer, better known as Skin, said the blast, which happened on Istiklal Street, a main pedestrian street popular with tourists, made her building “shake like paper”.

Thirty-six people were also injured in the explosion, including 12 foreign nationals. No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place at about 11am local time (9am GMT).

“Beautiful Istanbul taken before the horrendous bomb blast that just went off outside our hotel,” she wrote in a post on Facebook. “Many people injured, horrific scenes, building shook like paper. My heart goes out to the innocent people and their families caught up in this evil situation. We are ok, very shaken, city is in lockdown, plain clothes police with guns everywhere, scary times.”

Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said the explosion happened close to a local government office and a number of restaurants and foreign consulates. The wounded include nine Israelis and a number of Irish citizens.

CCTV footage of the blast shows shoppers wandering down the street before a bomb is detonated, causing a huge blast. A number can be seen running for cover.

A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the situation was being monitored. They could not confirm whether any British nationals were injured.

Additional reporting by agencies