New Year's Eve crowds in Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue: Visitors struggled to walk
Crowds increased in Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue, two of the megacity's most important meeting points, just hours before the new year.
AA
Beyoğlu was once again one of the top choices this year for thousands of locals and foreigners wishing to participate in New Year's Eve celebrations.
As the crowds in and around Taksim Square grew with each passing hour, visitors filling Istiklal Avenue struggled to walk due to the density.
Police teams implemented extensive security measures in the area to ensure that citizens and tourists could spend New Year's Eve in peace.
Bag and body searches were conducted at checkpoints established at the entrances to the avenue and the square. During the searches, General Information Gathering (GBT) checks were performed on individuals deemed suspicious.
The security measures by the teams in Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue are ongoing.