Small explosion occurs, no casualties reported near NATO facility in Turkey’s İzmir

İZMİR

A small explosion at a graveyard close to the grounds of a NATO-owned military facility in the Aegean province of İzmir has damaged the installation’s perimeter walls, but caused no injuries on June 22, Doğan News Agency has reported.

The explosion occurred at 8:00 a.m. in the graveyard next to the military area belonging to NATO in İzmir’s Gültepe district. 

The explosion damaged a wall close to the military area but there were no casualties reported. Officials said the explosion occurred due to a stun grenade left near the wall. 

Meanwhile, the windows of an apartment nearby were shattered due to the explosion.

Several police teams were immediately dispatched to the scene following the explosion, as Vice-Admiral Hasan Uşaklıoğlu and Hüseyin Aşkın, the police chief of İzmir, arrived in the area for investigation. 

Police officers have cordoned off the area and are investigating the cause of the explosion.

Locals living in the neighborhood said the explosion occurred after the passage of a military vehicle, adding that military vehicles were patrolling the area regularly.