Mainz, Germany – Germany decided to close its embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday, its consulate in Istanbul and all German schools in both cities, the country’s foreign ministry said. German intelligence has reason to believe there are serious threats against the countries institutions in Turkey. "Yesterday evening some very concrete indications - which are to be taken very seriously - reached our security services, indicating that terror attacks against German institutions within Turkey were being prepared," said Germany’s foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. As a result the German embassy in Turkey’s capital Ankara, the consulate in Istanbul and German schools in both cities were closed down until further notice, the minister said. He added that “protecting German citizens and the people working and learning in these establishments must now be the priority.” In addition to these measures security precautions at the German institutions were also being beefed up. The move by Berlin comes after a bomb attack in Ankara on Sunday, the third attack in Turkey since January when an Islamic State suicide bomber killed twelve German tourists in Istanbul. The recent attacks, however, was apparently carried out by a PKK splinter group who officially took responsibility. In an online-statement the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) described Sunday's car bombing in the crowded public transport hub as a revenge attack for the Turkish military operations in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast. The German facility closures coincide with the upcoming EU-Turkey talks set to begin on Friday. European leaders will meet Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Brussels to review a draft deal between Turkey and the European Union. Turkey wants Brussels to lift travel visa restrictions for Turkish citizens heading to Europe. In return Ankara is ready to exchange migrants with the EU in an attempt to decrease the inflow of migrants using Turkey as a conduit to get into Europe.
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