Reports are coming in of several dead, seven wounded as an explosion hits Taksim central Istanbul.
Roads have been blocked and access to the area is restricted and helicopters are circling the area. The Istanbul governor later confirmed that the suicide attack killed 5 people, wounded 20.
The government has moved rapidly to bar reporting from the area, and at 12:20PM implemented internet censorship of social media services Twitter and Facebook:
Confirmed: Twitter and Facebook blocked in #Turkey by throttling at 12:20PM after new explosion in #Taksim #Istanbul pic.twitter.com/duD12MUTIh
— Turkey Blocks (@TurkeyBlocks) March 19, 2016
Featured photo: Mehmet Cagdas
