Germany said that ten of its nationals were killed in the suicide bombing that ripped through the historic heart of Istanbul a day earlier.

Germany said that ten of its nationals were killed in the suicide bombing  that ripped through the historic heart of Istanbul a day earlier.

"I must relay the sad news that we now have 10 dead Germans among the victims" from Tuesday's attack, foreign ministry spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli told reporters.

She said seven wounded Germans were being treated in hospital in Istanbul, five of them in intensive care.

Chancellor Angela Merkel had on Tuesday reported that eight German nationals were killed in the blast. Chebli indicated that two more had subsequently died in hospital.

It was not immediately clear whether the total toll cited by Turkish authorities remained at 10.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Wednesday after talks with his Turkish counterpart in Istanbul that there was no indication that the attack had specifically targeted Germans, adding there was no need for nationals to cancel travel plans.