The death toll in a series of blasts that rocked the Turkish largest city of Istanbul on Thursday rose to 27, and over 450 were injured, the Anatolia news agency reported. 

Five explosions reportedly took place in Istanbul Thursday morning, which were apparently targeted British interests in the city.

One of the bombings occurred near the British Consulate General and another near the Turkish headquarters of the London-based HSBC bank.

Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said initial findings showed the explosions were launched with the same method as that used in the attacks against two synagogues in Istanbul on Saturday.

Cicek said two explosions occurred around 11:00 a.m. (0900 GMT),one of which was in front of the British Consulate General and the other in Levent district.

The Turkish Interior Ministry, Istanbul Governor, State Security Court Prosecutor and all other security and intelligence organizations are carrying out investigations, Cicek said.

Local Star TV channel reported that a huge crater was seen in front of British Consulate General in Istanbul after the blast.

Rescue teams were searching for survivors and dead bodies under the rubble, the report said.

The entrance hall of the Consulate was demolished and window frames were smashed into debris.

The explosion caused major damages in workplaces around the Consulate building and windows of nearby shops and St. Antuan Church on Istiklal Street were also shattered.

Meanwhile, a police helicopter was flying over the city, the report said.

Istanbul's Gold Exchange was closed after the blasts and transactions have been suspended till a second announcement, the report said.  

Straw condemns blast at UK consulate in Istanbul

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Thursday strongly condemned the blast at British consulate in Turkey's Istanbul.

The blast bears the hallmarks of al Qaida terror attacks, Straw told reporters. 

UK envoy among the dead

British Consul General Roger Short was among the dead, CNN Turk reported.

Diplomatic sources told the network that the British consul general was killed when a car bomb exploded on a narrow street outside Britain's Istanbul consulate Thursday.

(Sources including Xinhua News Agency and China Daily, November 21, 2003)