Istanbul
Debris near the UK consulate
Devastation
Over 400 injured
Roger Short
British Consul-General was killed in attack
The governor of Istanbul has said that four Britons and 12 Turkish nationals were killed in the bombing this morning at the British consulate in the city.
It was the first of two deadly attacks on British interests in Istanbul which killed at least 27 people and injured another 450. The British Consul-General Roger Short was among the dead.
The second target was the Turkish headquarters of the leading British HSBC bank. Eleven people, including three bank staff, were killed in that explosion.
The British prime minister, Tony Blair, declared there must be 'no holding back' and 'no hesitation' in attacking those responsible.
The Turkish government said suicide bombers in vans packed with explosives caused today's two blasts, which appeared designed to coincide with the state visit of US President George Bush to Britain.
Tonight, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning the attacks as well as the bombing of two Istanbul synagogues last weekend, in which 23 people were killed.
UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan, said those who carried out the attacks had no respect for human life and their actions should be utterly condemned.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said that the bombers 'clearly place no value on human life, regardless of race or creed'.
Mr Ahern called on the entire international community to intensify its co-operation.
