Due to “precise” indications of attacks, several Western countries are closing their representations in Turkey. Interior Minister Soylu suspects a conspiracy against his country. The West would start a “new psychological war”.
Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu sees a foreign conspiracy behind the closure of several European representations in the country for security reasons. In a speech, he accused some western countries of wanting to wage a psychological war against Turkey. They warned of attacks last Friday, on a day when Turkey has set itself the goal of attracting 60 million tourists a year, Soylu said. The West is about to start a “new psychological war,” he said.
Germany, the USA and several other European countries warned their citizens last week that there was an increased risk of attacks in Turkey. The background is Islamophobic actions in Europe, such as a Koran burning in Sweden. As a result, the German Consulate General in Istanbul closed for security reasons. Other representations also remained closed, including the Swedish consulate general in Istanbul and the embassy in Ankara, the Swiss embassy and consulate in Istanbul, and the British and French consulates general in Istanbul.
The Federal Foreign Office has not yet given the all-clear – including next Friday, the Consulate General in Istanbul is closed, it said in a message to citizens living in Turkey. There are “precise and concrete” indications of a threat, especially in the Beyoglu inner-city district of Istanbul, the Istiklal shopping street and Taksim Square, as well as in the Levent district, where many consulates are located. The statement did not indicate which groups are at risk.
