The Latest: US Condemns Turkey car bombing

ISTANBUL – The Latest on a car bomb attack Tuesday in Istanbul all times local):

0:30 a.m.

The United States is condemning as “horrific” a car bomb attack in Turkey that killed 11 people in central Istanbul.

White House spokesman Mark Stroh says the U.S. government sends thoughts and prayers to all who lost their lives or were injured in the attack, and to their loved ones.

Stroh says the U.S. stands with Turkey as both countries confront challenges in the region.

Tuesday morning’s attack targeted a police vehicle. Seven police officers and four civilians were killed.

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4:20 p.m.

Turkey’s state-run news agency says police have detained four people in connection with the car bomb attack in Istanbul that killed 11 people.

The Anadolu Agency said the four suspects were being questioned at Istanbul’s main police headquarters.

The attack on Tuesday morning targeted a police vehicle and killed seven police officers and four civilians.

The private Dogan news agency said the four suspects had hired the car used in the bombing attack.

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2:20 p.m.

The European Union says it stands by Turkey after a rush-hour explosion killed 11 people and wounded 36 others in an attack on a bus carrying riot police.

The EU and Turkey have been quarreling over the conditions of a landmark agreement that has eased the migration crisis for the 28-nation bloc while giving Ankara several concessions, including the promise of visa-free travel for Turks.

The EU says Tuesday that “we reiterate our continuing solidarity to Turkey, its government and its people and reaffirm our commitment to work closely together to fight the global threat of terrorism.”

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9:05 p.m.

A rush-hour car bomb attack targeting a bus carrying riot police killed 11 people and wounded 36 others Tuesday, Istanbul’s governor said.

Speaking at the scene of the blast in the district of Beyazit, Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin said the dead included seven police officers and four civilians. At least three of the wounded were in serious condition.

The explosion was caused by a bomb placed inside a car and was detonated as the police vehicle was passing by, Sahin said.

The police bus was overturned from the force of the blast which also damaged nearby buildings, including a closed hotel whose entrance appeared gutted and windows were blown out. The blast also shattered windows at a famous 16th-century Ottoman mosque, Sehzadebasi, wrecked several cars and forced cancellation of exams at nearby building of Istanbul University.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited some of the wounded at Istanbul’s Haseki hospital, where two people were undergoing surgery, and said ” These cannot be pardoned or forgiven. We shall continue our fight against terrorists tirelessly until the end.”

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu condemned the attack, which occurred on the second day of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.