UPDATE: Explosion rocks Istanbul’s main tourist district
The terrorist group Teyre Azadiye Kurdistan carried out a mortar attack on Sabiha Gokcen airport in Istanbul while the airport was closed for the night on December 23.
The Turkish authorities increased security measures at airports in Istanbul in response.
Last August, police guards stationed outside Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul were attacked by gunfire and a sound grenade and two people opened fire outside the US Consulate-General in the city.
On 27 July there were reports of possible threats to public transport in Istanbul, in particular the metro stations at Yenikapi, Taksim, Osmanbey and Haciosman and stops on the Metrobus line.
There were two explosions near the main Ankara train station in the Ulus area in October last year, killing at least 100 people and wounding more than 180.
The Foreign Office advice to visitors, which has not yet been updated following this morning’s explosion, is to be vigilant, monitor media reports and keep up to date with its travel advice.
"The terrorist group Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party Front launched a series of attacks in Istanbul last year targeting the Turkish police and judiciary. On 5 June, two people were killed and many injured by an explosion at an HDP rally in Diyarbakir. On 9 June, 4 people were killed in an attack in Diyarbakir," it said. "You should exercise caution."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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