Turkey: FCO warns terror attacks "likely"

6 June 2018

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated the latest travel advice regarding the safety of Turkey, warning that terror attacks are “very likely”.
 
The FCO says “it’s likely that some attacks will target western interests and tourists from western countries, particularly in the major cities”. Travellers are advised to “remain vigilant” in crowded places and popular areas with tourists.
 
The FCO statement further outlines that “in some busy areas, especially Istanbul, the Turkish authorities are stopping members of the public to conduct ID checks. There’s also a larger than usual number of police checkpoints on main roads across Turkey. You should co-operate with officials conducting checks, and keep your passport and a printed copy of your e-visa or your residence permit with you at all times.”
 
The FCO advises against all but essential travel to the areas of Sirnak, Mardin, Sanliurfa, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Kilis and Hatay provinces, plus the areas of Siirt, Tunceli and Hakkari. Visitors are strictly warned not to travel to within 10km of the border with Syria and to the city of Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey.
 
Political unrest caused by presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24, 2018, could also cause disruption to people’s holidays.