ALERT: Turkey Travel Warning

ALERT: Turkey Travel Warning

The U.S. State Department updated its Travel Warning for Turkey.

The warning includes information on the government’s decision to order family members of “employees

posted to the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul” to leave the country, due to security concerns.

According to the updated State Department Travel Warning:

The U.S. Department of State is updating this Travel Warning to reflect the October 29,

2016, decision to order the departure of family members of employees posted to the U.S.

Consulate General in Istanbul, Turkey. 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 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. The Department continues to monitor the effect of these

developments on the overall security situation in the country.

Foreign and U.S. tourists have been explicitly targeted by international and indigenous

terrorist organizations in Turkey. In the past year, extremists have carried out attacks in

France, Belgium, Germany, Mali, Bangladesh, Tunisia, and Turkey. 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. Extremists have also threatened to kidnap and

assassinate Westerners and U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens are reminded to review personal

security plans, monitor local news for breaking events, and remain vigilant at all times.