Two women from Northern Ireland have been murdered in Turkey, officials have announced.

Reports suggest the two women were stabbed on Thursday night in the port city of Izmir, on the country's west coast.

Their names have not yet been released but it is understood they were middle-aged and originated from County Down.

A 17-year-old Turkish boy, said to be the boyfriend of a daughter of one of the women, has been arrested and has reportedly confessed to the attack.

The women were travelling on Irish passports and the Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the families.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin confirmed consular staff are trying to track down family members. "We are providing consular assistance through the embassy in Ankara," the spokesman said.