Turkey terror alert

21 October 2016

Public meetings in Turkish capital banned until November 30 due to alert over "potential terror attacks", officials say. Turkey's capital Ankara has banned all public gatherings and demonstrations until the end of November after receiving information about "potential terror attacks". The Ankara governorate said in a statement on Monday that all such meetings had been prohibited until November 30, in line with the state of emergency imposed in the wake of a failed coup attempt on July 15. It said that the decision was taken "to ensure people's safety and public order".  

Without naming the organisations, it said that the groups were thought to have been planning attacks on public demonstrations and meetings. Events covered by the ban include gatherings and protests in open or closed public places such as streets, avenues, parks and squares, as well as plays and performances in public places. Public bodies may organise events in public places if they obtain special permission from the governor’s office. Republic Day on October 29, commemorating the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, and Remembrance Day on November 10, marking the death of the republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, are both within the time period covered by the ban. Both events attract huge crowds in Ankara every year.