ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The US Consulate in Istanbul said Saturday that family members of mission employees had been ordered to depart Turkey due to security information about possible attacks by extremist groups.
In August last year, two women opened fire at the heavily-protected US Consulate compound.
“The Department of State made this decision based on security information indicating extremist groups are continuing aggressive efforts to attack U.S. citizens in areas of Istanbul where they reside or frequent,” the consulate said in a travel advisory on its website, adding that the decision applied to family members only and that, “The Consulate General remains open and fully staffed.”
“This order applies only to the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, not to other U.S. diplomatic posts in Turkey,” it added.
The notice noted that foreign and US tourists have been explicitly targeted by “international and indigenous terrorist organizations in Turkey.”
It warned that “additional attacks in Turkey at major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centers, places of worship, and transportation hubs, including aviation services, metros, buses, bridges, bus terminals and sea transport, could occur.”
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