Two hurt in blast in Turkish city Izmir

ISTANBUL, Oct 2 (Reuters) Two people were injured today when a blast ripped through a rubbish bin in front of a shopping centre in the Turkish Aegean city of Izmir, a police spokesman said.

The spokesman told Reuters the blast was apparently caused by a percussion bomb, a device that makes a loud noise but rarely causes much damage. But he described the injuries of one of those hurt as ''serious''.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.

Kurdish separatists battling security forces in southeast Turkey have occasionally staged bomb attacks in Izmir and other places on the Aegean coast, a popular destination for foreign tourists.

Other violent groups ranging from militant Islamists to far-left radicals also operate in Turkey and carry out mostly small attacks from time to time.

REUTERS SZ RK1205