Turkey detains suspect in Syria

Turkish security forces have detained a suspect wanted in connection with a deadly bombing in Istanbul in an operation in a Turkish-controlled area in north-western Syria, Turkey's state-run news agency reported.

The suspect, identified by his code-name Husam, was apprehended by Turkish police late on Wednesday in the Syrian city of Azaz, which is under the control of the Turkeybacked Syrian opposition, the Anadolu Agency reported.

He was being taken to Istanbul for questioning.

His detention raised the number of suspects in custody in connection with the bombing to 51.

The explosion targeted Istanbul's bustling Istiklal Avenue – a popular thoroughfare lined with shops and restaurants – and left six people dead, including two children. Dozens more were wounded in the attack that came as a stark reminder of bombings in Turkish cities between 2015 and 2017, crushing the public's sense of security.