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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue

"I have learned with deep anguish about the explosion at Istiklal Avenue in the heart of Istanbul," Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, one of the leaders condemning the blast, said on Twitter. "(The) government and the people of Pakistan express deepest condolences to the brotherly people of Türkiye at the loss of precious lives and send prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured," he added.

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti also expressed their "heartfelt" condolences.

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

Meanwhile, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamed Al Sani called President Erdoğan and conveyed sympathies to those who lost their lives.

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas also expressed his condolences and condemned the explosion.

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

Israeli President Isaac Herzog was also among the world leaders conveying condolences. "The whole world should take a common and determined stance against terrorism," he said.

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dibeybe said they stand in solidarity with Türkiye.

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

Messages of condolence were also sent by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, President of the European Council Charles Michel, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "Shocking images from Istanbul. My thoughts and deepest condolences to all those affected & to the Turkish people. #NATO stands in solidarity with our Ally Türkiye."

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

French President Emmanuel Macron said the Turkish people were struck in their heart, Istanbul.

"On this day so symbolic for our nation, while we think of the victims who fell on November 13, 2015, the Turkish people are struck by an attack in their heart, Istanbul. To the Turks: we share your pain. We stand with you in the fight against terrorism," Macron tweeted.

On Nov. 13, 2015, terrorists carried out a set of coordinated attacks in Paris, killing 130 people.

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

Meanwhile, the US also condemned the attack. "The United States strongly condemns the act of violence that took place today in Istanbul, Türkiye," said a statement by Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary.

"Our thoughts are with those who were injured and our deepest condolences go to those who lost loved ones. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our NATO Ally Türkiye in countering terrorism," it added.

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

The foreign ministries of Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany, India, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Greece also expressed condolences.

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

The Gulf Cooperation Council and President of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Republika Srpska entity Milorad Dodik also condemned the attack.

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World leaders condemn blast on Istanbuls Istiklal Avenue

According to Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, the blast occurred at around 4.20 p.m. local time, with police and emergency officials cordoning off the scene.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that according to the initial information, the explosion could be a suspected act of terrorism and a woman played a role in it. "It smells like terrorism," he told a news conference before leaving for a G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.