At the time of the attack in the afternoon, the pedestrian zone was particularly busy. A powerful bang is heard on recordings on online networks, followed by flames. The images also show a large, black crater and several people lying on the ground. The explosion immediately caused panic among visitors to the shopping street. The area was immediately evacuated.

Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, was the target of a bloody campaign of attacks in 2015 and 2016, to which the jihadist militia Islamic State claimed responsibility. One of the attacks was also carried out on Istiklal Street.