BERLIN (Sputnik) – At least eight German nationals were killed and other nine were injured in the suicide bomb attack in central Istanbul's square, according to preliminary data of the investigation.
"I will inform [the government] about the talks with the Turkish leadership and the progress in the investigation," Merkel said at a briefing in Berlin.
The chancellor added that she had a phone conversation with Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier in the day.
"Both of them informed me of the investigation and sent heartfelt condolences of the government and the Turkish people," Merkel said.
The Istanbul explosion claimed a total of 10 lives and injured 15 people.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called the incident a terrorist act, adding that it was perpetrated by a Syrian suicide bomber.
