“When I heard the explosion, I was petrified, people froze, looking at each other. Then people started running away. What else can you do,” said Mehmet Akus, a restaurant worker on Istiklal.
A helicopter flew above the scene and a number of ambulances were parked in nearby Taksim Square. The Turkish Red Crescent said blood was being transferred to nearby hospitals.
Oktay said: “We are evaluating it as an act of terror”.
If confirmed, it would be the first major bomb blast in…