Several British Consulate staff are missing

While some describe a community in shock, others are determined not to let the bombers force them out of the country.

But many are planning to avoid areas associated with western culture until they believe the threat has subsided.

Some believe Levent's main shopping centre, bars and clubs opening to mark the end of Ramadan are potential targets and rugby fans plan to stay home to watch the World Cup final.

City worker Clive Selman, 26, was in Istanbul on business on Thursday and was just one street away from the HSBC building when the bombers struck.

"I was just going in for a meeting and there was an enormous bang, lots of crashing and lots of Turkish people running around shouting: 'Bomb'," he said.

I'm pretty sure this is not going to happen again - they have made their point, whatever their point was Sophie Wedin

"It was quite a surreal experience, that was the first time I had ever heard anything go off.

"I was relatively relaxed, but if I had walked out of the building to see the devastation I think my reaction would have been completely different.

"It wasn't until we got back and started watching it on Turkish television, which takes a 'warts and all' approach, that we realised it was very devastating indeed."

At least four Britons were among those killed in the blasts which injured 450 people.

Greg, 46, originally from Wales, said: "As a Brit living in Istanbul, this is my first real experience of terrorism and it was frightening beyond belief. I was very worried when I heard it was the British consulate."

Others hope the bombers have finished with Turkey and life will return to normal.

Sophie Wedin, 25, from Kent said she had no intention of leaving the country.

"I'm pretty sure this is not going to happen again - they have made their point, whatever their point was," she said.

'Considerable shock'

"I still think Istanbul is one of the safest places you can be... but I think for the next couple of weeks everyone will be avoiding symbols of western culture."

But for others, the blasts have shattered any sense that Istanbul was a safe city.

Solicitor Paul Sheridan, 46, heard the HSBC blast from his office.

He told BBC News Online: "Everyone is just really shocked. It's not just the ex-pat community, my Turkish colleagues are in considerable shock.

"We've been living for a number of years without terrorism, but now it seems to have returned."