Car bomb rocks Turkey courthouse killing employee and policeman day after 20 'ISIS militants' detained in city

Two attackers were killed in a shootout and another is on the run – police and ambulances are at the scene

A car bomb has been detonated outside a court in Izmir killing four and injuring at least 10 – just a day after police detained 20 suspected ISIS supporters in the Turkish city.

Two attackers were killed in a shootout with police following the huge blast while a third is thought to be on the run and is being hunted by investigators.

A policeman and a court employee were also reported to be killed in the incident.
The bomb exploded outside an entrance used by judges and prosecutors, according to local media reports.

Graphic images from the scene showed the bloodied body of one of the assailants lying on the ground while still clutching the assault rifle used in the brutal attack.

 

The street moments before the huge explosion 

     

Orange flames can be seen in the blast outside the courthouse 

Armed clashes broke out at the scene before continuing inside the building as employees cowered behind their desks.

Ambulances were dispatched with at least one vehicle was seen burning by witnesses.

   

Cars burn in the street at the site of an explosion in front of the courthouse in Izmir (Photo: AFP)

Yesterday Turkish police detained 20 suspected Islamic State militants thought to be of Central Asian and North African origin in Izmir.

The suspects were understood to have travelled there from the central city of Konya, the statement said.

  

The explosion happened in Izmir, Turkey

Security forces are hunting for a gunman who killed 39 people in an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day, an attack claimed by Islamic State.

The gunman is still at large. Turkish media reports have said the assailant was believed to have spent time in Konya before coming to Istanbul and carrying out the attack.