A suicide bomb attack at a major tourist shopping area in the Turkish city of Istanbul has killed at least four people, officials say.

Up to 20 were injured, some seriously, reports say.

The area - Istiklal Street - is reportedly crowded at weekends.

Last Sunday, an attack in the capital, Ankara, killed 37 people. A Kurdish militant group claimed that attack, saying it was in revenge for Turkish military operations against Kurds.

Last month, a bomb attack on a military convoy in Ankara killed 28 people and wounded dozens more.

Turkey has been on high alert as the number of attacks has spiked in recent months
In October 2015, more than 100 people were killed in a double-suicide bombing at a Kurdish peace rally in Ankara.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said terror groups were targeting civilians because they were losing their struggle against Turkish security forces.

He said such attacks "increase our determination to fight terrorism".

Turkey has previously blamed Syrian Kurds and carried air strikes in retaliation.

Istanbul tourist area hit by suicide bomber - BBC News