Tradesmen in the Sultan Ahmet tourist district of Istanbul expressed their concern on Wednesday that business could be affected following a suicide bombing in the area.

A female suicide bomber blew herself up at a police station in the area on Tuesday, killing one policeman and wounding another, according to Turkish authorities.

Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin said the woman entered the police station and reported a missing wallet before detonating a bomb.

The leftist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front, or DHKP-C, said it carried out the attack, calling it "an act of sacrifice."

Ahmet Balta has a carpet shop opposite the police station.

He was there when the attack occurred.

Balta told the Associated Press that traders in the area were concerned the incident could affect their businesses, with tourists scared away.

It is the second attack on police in a week in Istanbul.

On Thursday, police subdued a man after he threw grenades and fired a weapon at officers near the prime minister's offices.

AP TELEVISION

Istanbul - 7 January 2015

1. Exterior of police station where suicide bomb attack occurred

2. Police tape in front of building

3. Shattered windows

4. Various of police vehicle behind police tape

5. Sign outside building reading (Turkish) 'Istanbul Police Department' and (English) 'Tourism police'

6. Exterior of carpet shop belonging to Ahmet Balta

7. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ahmet Balta, Eye witness:

"At first we heard from inside the sound of an explosion. We ran outside. We were running to the scene. We saw a police officer coming outside (of the police station). He started shooting with his gun. He took a shot. He said "there is a suicide bomber inside, everyone should lie down." He took a second shot. Then we went away."

8. Cutaway of Balta's hand

9. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ahmet Balta, Eye witness:

"Everyone was in a panic at that time (right after the incident). No one was aware of what was happening. Then when everyone thought that it was a suicide bombing, everyone has become anxious. This is a tourism district, it will affect all of us. Not only us, but all tradesmen around here will be affected."

10. Exterior of police station

A memorial service for a Turkish police officer, who was killed in a suicide bombing, was held at Istanbul police headquarters on Wednesday.

A female suicide bomber blew herself up at a police station in the tourist district of Sultan Ahmet on Tuesday, killing Kenan Kumas, and wounding another policeman.

Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said the woman entered the police station and reported a missing wallet before detonating a bomb.

A Turkish leftist group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing.

In a statement posted on a website, the leftist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front, or DHKP-C, said it carried out the attack.

It called the bombing "an act of sacrifice."

AP TELEVISION

Istanbul - 7 January 2015

1. Close of framed photo of police officer killed in suicide bombing, on coffin

2. Various of man praying at coffin, draped with the Turkish flag

3. Wreaths and casket outside police headquarters

4. Policemen on guard beside wreaths as woman speaks at podium

5. Dignitaries standing in line

6. Policemen on guard beside wreaths as chief of police speaks at podium

7. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Selami Altinok, Istanbul Chief of Police:

"Those who want to divide and destroy our state and our nation, ruin our unity, have targeted the indivisible integrity of the Turkish Republic as well as the Turkish police, who are their (assailants') nightmare, and who are also the guarantors of a peaceful and safe society. The enemies of the state and the nation should know that the Turkish police, who are the guarantors of the Republic and of democracy, have until now not left those who attacked our state unpunished, and will not leave them unpunished from now on, either."

8. Policemen standing beside wreaths as man speaks at podium

9. Various of dignitaries praying at memorial

10. Various of grieving family members and friends

11. Various of policemen carrying coffin

A female suicide bomber blew herself up at a police station in Istanbul on Tuesday, killing one policeman and wounding another, according to Turkish authorities.

Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin said the woman entered the police station and reported a missing wallet before detonating a bomb.

The attack occurred in the Sultan Ahmet district, a popular tourist destination.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the bomber was carrying two other bombs, which were safely defused.

It is the second attack on police in a week in Istanbul.

On Thursday, police subdued a man after he threw grenades and fired a weapon at officers near the prime minister's offices.

The leftist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front, or DHKP-C, said it carried out the Thursday attack.

DHKP-C, which seeks a socialist state, is considered as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the European Union.

A tourist from Georgia who heard the attack while she was in a cafe said she did not feel secure after the bombing.

Suicide attacks have been rare in Turkey since the government opened peace talks in 2012 with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, to end a thirty-year insurgency.

The DHKP-C has carried out sporadic attacks, including a suicide bombing on the US embassy in 2013 which killed a security guard.

The group was more active in the 1970s.

AP TELEVISION

Istanbul - 6 January 2015

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Various of scene after suicide bombing in Sultan Ahmet district

2. Various of special police team at scene

3. Various of the scene

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Teona Tchanturia, tourist from Georgia:

"Me and my friend, we were sitting in the cafe behind the Hagia Sophia (museum). It was a very strange voice (noise), and it's terrible thing. I think because it has influence on our security, for tourists, for the local people."

5. Special police team at the scene

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Teona Tchanturia, tourist from Georgia:

"When I got information that it was a bomb, now I feel myself not secure."

7. Tram passing in front of scene

A suicide bomber threw a hand grenade and blew himself up at a police station in Istanbul on Tuesday, killing one police officer and wounding seven other people, authorities said.

Ambulances raced to the scene of the blast in the Istanbul suburb of Sultangazi after the attack.

Forensic investigators then moved in, combing the area in front of the building for evidence.

The city's police chief said the assailant was a 25-year-old man.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Fighting between Turkish forces and Kurdish rebels who seek self-rule has surged in recent months.

The military announced on Monday that it had conducted air strikes over the past week in northern Iraq, where Kurdish rebels have bases.

Some 25 guerrillas were killed in the operation, according to the military.

Authorities blamed the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party for a bomb last month that killed nine people near a police station in a city close to the Syrian border.

Rebels denied involvement, though they have escalated attacks in what some analysts believe is an attempt to capitalise on regional uncertainty surrounding the civil war in Syria.

1. Various of crime-scene investigators at scene of blast in front of police station

2. Mid of armed police standing guard at perimeter of blast

3. Wide of police officers arriving at scene with riot gear

4. Wide of fire engines, police and crime-scene investigators at scene

5. Various of investigators collecting evidence

6. Mid of armoured vehicle parked at scene

7. Various of investigators at scene

8. Mid of police officers arriving with riot gear, fire engines in background

9. Wide of blast scene