UAE 'strongly condemns' Istanbul explosion that killed six

Turkey rejected condolences from the US over the attack

A mourner lays flowers on Istiklal Avenue in Turkey's capital Istanbul, where a bomb blast killed six people on Sunday. AFP

A shrine has been created on the popular pedestrianised shopping street. AFP

Mourners at the site where the bomb exploded. AP

Municipal workers clear up after the blast. AFP

Police officers block an entrance to Istiklal Avenue after Sunday's blast. AP

Forensics experts examine the bomb site. AFP

People leave the area after an explosion on Istanbul's popular pedestrian Istiklal Avenue Sunday. AP

Security officers move crowds away from the scene of the explosion. AP

Shoppers run away from the busy shopping street. AP

Ambulances and police at the scene of the explosion. Reuters

Bodies of unidentified people lay on the ground after the blast. Reuters

The Turkish Red Crescent has said blood has been sent to hospitals in the vicinity and there is currently no "urgent need" for donations. Reuters

Video footage showed panicked residents fleeing after a loud bang was heard, with multiple people lying on the ground. Reuters

A boy is cared for after the explosion. Getty

Police work at the scene after the explosion. Reuters

An ambulance passes people leaving a store. AFP

Forensic teams on the scene. Reuters

Police and emergency service members near where the blast happened. Reuters

Istiklal is one of the busiest streets in Istanbul. Getty

The UAE has strongly condemned a bombing on a busy Istanbul shopping street that killed six people on Sunday.

Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu accused the Kurdistan Workers' Party of responsibility for the attack and said police had detained 22 people, including the person suspected of planting the bomb.

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation offered condolences to the government, the people of Turkey and the families of the victims, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Turkey rejected condolences from the US embassy over the attack.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Washington of supplying weapons to Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, deemed as "terrorists" by Ankara.

"We do not accept the US embassy's message of condolences, we reject it," Mr Soylu said in televised comments.

The White House earlier said it strongly condemned the “act of violence” in Istanbul.

“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Nato ally [Turkey] in countering terrorism,” the White House said.

Mr Erdogan condemned the “vile attack”.

“The relevant units of our state are working to find the perpetrators … behind this vile attack,” he said at a televised press conference.

He also said initial signs pointed to a “terror” attack in the explosion in Istanbul which wounded 53 others.

“It might be wrong if we say for sure that this is terror but according to first signs … there is a smell of terror there,” Mr Erdogan said.

“The attempt to take over Turkey and the Turkish nation through terrorism will not reach its goal today or tomorrow.”

Condemnations of the attack and condolences for the victims also came from the EU, Egypt, Ukraine and Greece.

Turkish authorities linked support for the YPG, a Syrian Kurdish militia, by Washington and others to the blast.

The presidency's communications director, Fahrettin Altun, said such attacks “are direct and indirect results of the support some countries give to terrorist organisations”.

On Twitter, European Council President Charles Michel sent condolences to victims after the “horrific news”.