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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Hannah Kane & Conor Gogarty

British holidaymakers should avoid parts of Turkey, says Foreign Office travel advice

British holidaymakers have been advised not to travel to parts of Turkey unless it is essential.

Brits made 2.3 million visits to Turkey last year and many are planning to a summer break there, My London reports.

Most of these visits were trouble-free, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has now told British tourists to avoid all areas within 10km of the Syrian border.

Officials advised all but essential trips to Sirnak, Kilis, and Hatay provinces as well as the provinces of Diyarbakir, Tunceli and Hakkari.

FCO officials said "terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks" in the country.

Tourists should be "vigilant", they said, especially in crowded places after previous terror attacks in the country have targeted the largest city Istanbul and capital Ankara.

Bristol Airport (SWNS)

The FCO went on: "Terrorist groups, including Kurdish groups, Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL) and far left organisations, continue to plan and carry out attacks. Further attacks could be indiscriminate.

"While there is a potential that citizens from western countries may be targets or caught up in attacks, particularly in the major cities, attacks are most likely to target the Turkish state, civilians and demonstrations."

A previous warning put in place during the country's Mayoral elections has now been withdrawn.

British officials said that the dangerous climate of 2016 when the Turkish army staged a coup against the government, had now calmed.

An FCO spokesperson said: "The FCO advises against all travel to areas within 10km of the border with Syria, except the city of Kilis.

"The FCO advise against all but essential travel to all other areas of Sirnak, Kilis (including Kilis city) and Hatay provinces the provinces of Diyarbakir, Tunceli and Hakkari."

Holidaymakers are advised to check the latest FCO advice before travelling to any part of Turkey.

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