An Irish-Algerian family injured in a suicide attack in Istanbul have returned home.

The family, who live in London, were caught up in the bomb blast that killed five people yesterday morning.

They had been visiting Istanbul on their holidays at the time of the attack.

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The parents and three children were taken to hospital and were due to return to their home in London late last night.

The Turkish government said 39 people were wounded, including 24 foreigners.

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Among the dead were two Israelis and one Iranian citizen, officials said, killed as the bomb tore through a neighbourhood that is popular with tourists and home to cafes, restaurants and foreign consulates.

Last night, Minister for trade and foreign affairs Charlie Flanagan expressed his "horror and sadness" at the bombing, saying: "I am deeply saddened by today's horrific bomb attack in central Istanbul.

"I have spoken to ambassador Brendan Ward in Turkey and can confirm that we are aware of a number of Irish citizens among the injured.

"An embassy official is on the ground in Istanbul to provide consular assistance."

The country's prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu said: "Turkey has always said that terrorism has no religion, no language and no race and that terrorism has to be condemned no matter who the perpetrators are.

"This sad event has shown once again how right our position is."

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack but suspicion has fallen on the so-called 'Islamic State' group and Kurdish militants who have claimed two recent attacks in the Turkish capital Ankara.