RoM

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- A series of explosions have rocked the Turkish capital Istanbul, ripping the fronts off buildings and showering debris across streets.

One blast destroyed part of the HSBC Bank headquarters and a second hit a site near the British consulate, CNN Turk said. A third was reported outside a popular shopping mall.

Geokhan Guvens, of CNN Turk, said three people died in the first explosion in the area of the HSBC Bank and scores of others were injured. No other casualties have been confirmed.

Pictures from the mall showed people with blood on their faces, their clothes covered with dust. Cars in the streets were badly damaged.

"It's a very, very busy areas... It's very chaotic. Nobody knows what's happening," said Chris Kitrinost, an English teacher who works near the British consulate. "The damage is extreme."

The Istanbul stock exchange halted trading following the blasts, Reuters reported.

On Saturday two bombs exploded at synagogues in Istanbul, killing 25 people including two bombers.