Thousands gather in Istanbul to mark the 1453 conquest

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Istanbul's Yenikapı Square to celebrate the 563rd anniversary of the city's conquest by Ottoman Empire.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş and other prominent figures are expected to attend the ceremony.

This year's ceremony, held under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency, is expected to attract more than a million people.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) said in an earlier statement that the huge crew had been working on preparations at the city's seaside Yenikapı venue, which is being equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

It said the ceremony can be followed in six different languages via a mobile application launched by the İBB authority.

On May 29, 1453, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II conquered Istanbul, then called Constantinople, from where the Byzantines had ruled the Eastern Roman Empire for more than 1,000 years. The conquest transformed the city, once the heart of the Byzantine realm, into the capital of the new Ottoman Empire.

Security measures have been increased to high level as people were allowed to enter the main square in Yenikapı through 150 gates amid tight security.

Police helicopters, Special Forces, Coast Guard units and a submarine were deployed for the security of the event venue along with thousands of police forces.

A 563-strong janissary band will perform during the event and the Turkish Air Force's Turkish Stars, air acrobatics team will fly over the venue.

The municipality also said that the world's largest 3D mapping stage will revive the conquest with life-size ship models and a theatrical show.