At least four people died and 38 were injured on Sunday in a bomb blast on Istiklal Avenue in central Istanbul, the Associated Press reported citing local authorities. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear and reports say that five prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the incident. 

The footages that were posted on social media showed flames erupting after a loud bang. Pedestrians on Istiklal Avenue, which is one of the busiest streets in the city, were seen running away from the scene. Users on social media said that shops were closed and the entire avenue was shut down after the explosion.

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Where is Istiklal Avenue?

Istiklal Avenue is a 1.4 kilometre street in Instanbul’s Beyoglu district. Historically known as the Grand Avenue of Pera, the street is one of the most famous avenues in the city. 

The name Istiklal translates into independence and the name was given to the street on October 29, 1923, to commemorate Turkey’s triumph in the War of Independence.

The street was known as the Grande Rue de Péra in French or Cadde-i Kebir (Grand Avenue) in Turkish during the Ottoman era. It was a popular gathering spot where Europeans, local Italian and French Levantines, and Ottoman intellectuals interacted.

Its cosmopolitan, half-European, half-Asian culture were typically the reason why19th-century tourists referred to Istiklal Avenue as the Paris of the East.

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Istiklal Avenue starts at the northern end of Galataat Tunel Square and goes up to Taksim Square. Late Ottoman-era buildings can be found on both sides of the street and they have Neo-Classical, Neo-Gothic, Renaissance Revival, Beaux-Arts, and Art Nouveau architecture.

After the explosion, Turkey’s media watchdog imposed a temporary ban on reporting the explosion which prevented media channels from broadcasting the videos circulating on social media. According to the latest updates, the ban still continues.