Explosion Hits Police Station in Turkey's Gaziantep, Casualties Reported

A bomb has exploded near a police headquarters in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, according to local media. At least twenty three people have reportedly been injured in the blast.

Police sources confirmed that an explosion rocked the police building and people have been injured. The sources added the explosion was felt all over the city.

Pic from the aftermath of #Gaziantep explosion 20 min ago.
A car bomb was detonated infrnt of the municipality bldng pic.twitter.com/wc5qkW8TR6

— Bassam (@bassam_k) 1 May 2016

The governor of Gaziantep Ali Yerlikaya said that a law enforcement officer had been killed in the bomb blast. He added that at least 19 police officers and four civilians had been injured.

Gaziantep Emniyet Müdürlüğü önünde bombalı saldırı
DHA: Patlamada 9 kişi yaralandıhttps://t.co/9D8Opfhzbq

— Habertürk TV (@HaberturkTV) 1 May 2016

Footage from the broadcaster Haberturk shows pieces of a wrecked vehicle near the gates of the police HQ. All roads in the area have been closed as a security precaution. 

#gaziantep pic.twitter.com/znFsX0OF1t

— Nil Baldandatlutuğ (@gulbesekernil) 1 May 2016

​​A car bomb allegedly detonated just outside the police headquarters, Cumhuriyet reports, while there were media reports of gunfire in the area after the bomb exploded.

#Gaziantep te patlama #sondakika pic.twitter.com/M61Y9LeXfe

— Mustafa KOCAOĞ (@MKocaog) 1 May 2016

​The police HQ is close to a number of government office buildings including those of the governor and the mayor.

The area is normally very crowdy, but it was empty early on Sunday morning, according to AP.

The International Labor Day demonstrations in the city were cancelled due to the potential security threat, the Dogan news agency reports.