French Diplomatic Missions in Turkey Closed over Security Concerns

ANKARA, (ST)-  The French Embassy in Ankara  on Wednesday announced the closure of  the French diplomatic missions in Turkey until further notice for security concerns.

“The Embassy of France in Ankara, as well as the Consulate General in Istanbul will be closed from Wednesday July 13, 1pm, until further notice,” the embassy said in a statement on Wednesday, AFP reported.

Earlier on Wednesday French diplomatic missions in Turkey canceled France’s July 14 Bastille Day events for security threats, the French consulate general in Istanbul said.

 “Information points to a serious threat against plans for the celebration of the July 14 national holiday in Turkey. As a precaution, we have decided, in conjunction with the Turkish authorities, to cancel the celebrations,” a statement from the mission in Istanbul said, as cited by Reuters.

Turkey has been recently on high alert following deadly bombings of Istanbul Ataturk Airport that killed at least 45 people and injured over 230. The so-called “Islamic State” (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack.

Turkish opposition parties as well a number of Turkish intellectuals and politicians have stressed that the Turkish regime under the leadership of Recepe Tayyib Erdogan poses the biggest threat on the security in Turkey and the region because of its constant support for terrorists in Syria and other countries.

Hamda Mustafa