7 dead in the explosion of a Turkish restaurant; suspected gas canister

ISTANBUL (AP) — An explosion at a restaurant in western Turkey killed seven people on Friday, with an official saying a gas canister may have caused the blast.

The governor of Aydin province told Turkish television channel CNN Turk that five other people had been injured, one of them in critical condition. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag tweeted that a person « alleged to have caused the explosion » had been arrested and three prosecutors were investigating.

Governor Huseyin Aksoy said initial testimony from a restaurant worker suggested there was a leak in a cooking gas canister, leading to an explosion around 3:35 p.m. (12:35 GMT; 7:35 a.m. EST).

Media also said a fire broke out following the explosion at the Turkish doner kebab shop in the Nazilli district of Aydin. Footage showed fire engines and ambulances at the scene.

The Associated Press

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