Blast in Istanbul wounds 2 near government office

State-run television says two people were injured after an explosion in Istanbul, hours after police disarmed a bomb near a luxury hotel.

State-run television says two people were injured after an explosion in Istanbul, hours after police disarmed a bomb near a luxury hotel.

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TRT television said the device that exploded was left inside a trash can near a government office, in a low-income neighborhood.

It was not known if the two incidents are connected. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Kurdish rebels, who are fighting for autonomy in southeast Turkey, have in the past launched attacks in the lead up to their imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan's birthday on April 4. Militant leftist and Islamic groups are also active in the country.