US Istanbul mission partially closed due to 'security threat'
American authorities have previously warned that the US consulate in Istanbul faces security threats
A file photo of the US Consulate in Turkey's second city of Istanbul (US State Department)
Published date: 9 December 2015 08:43 GMT
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Last update: 8 years 5 months ago
The United States consulate in Istanbul was on Wednesday offering only limited services with a scaled-down staffing due to information about a possible security threat, the mission said.
"Due to information about a possible security threat against the US Consulate General in Istanbul, the Consulate will open with limited staff and services" on Wednesday, the mission said in a statement.
It said public services, including visa appointments and non-emergency services for American citizens scheduled for Wednesday had been "cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date."
The move comes after the US authorities warned on 5 December of an "imminent security threat against the US consulate compound" in Turkey's largest city.
The mission said the US embassy in Ankara and consulates in Adana and Izmir were working normally.
Istanbul is on high alert for attacks following three deadly bombings blamed on the Islamic State (IS) group in Ankara and the southeast of the country this year.
But there have also been attacks on security forces by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and sporadic actions by the the banned ultra-left wing group the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party–Front.
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