Six dead, dozens injured after explosion in busy Istanbul shopping area, officials say

An explosion Sunday afternoon in a busy shopping area of Istanbul has left at least six people dead and 53 others injured, a senior Turkish official said. 

Istanbul Gov. Ali Yerlikaya tweeted that the explosion occurred around 4:20 p.m. local time. The wounded are being treated and more information will be shared at a later time, he said. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote, as translated, on Twitter: "Let our nation rest assured that the perpetrators of this attack will be exposed with all its elements and punished as they deserve."

"We wish God's mercy on those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the injured," Yerlikaya tweeted, as translated.

Video of the incident shows a fiery explosion and a loud bang as pedestrians run away.

An unconfirmed video purportedly from after the incident shows people lying down in the street before first responders arrive.

Many shops and restaurants line the area where the attack occurred, the Associated Press reported.