Reports from Turkey say there has been a large explosion in the centre of the capital Ankara, killing several people and injuring a number of others.

Local media are reporting it as an attack.

It happened at Kizilay Square near the central Guven Park, where several ambulances have been sent to the scene.

One broadcaster, NTV, says the blast has left “many dead”. Turkey’s Dogan news agency says at least five people are dead.

Another channel, the state-run TRT, said the blast appeared to have been triggered by a car exploding near a bus stop. Earlier it said the explosion happened after a car collided with a bus.

Some reports – unconfirmed – say gunfire was also heard after the explosion.

The blast comes less than a month after a car bomb attack on a military bus in Ankara killed 29 people. Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for that attack.

Reports from Turkey say national media have been banned from reporting the latest explosion, in line with restrictions imposed