UK Government tells visitors to remain viligant in Turkey due to high threat of terrorism

There is a high threat from terrorism in Turkey and a number of terrorist groups remain active in the country. Statements have been made in the press indicating that attacks could take place against tourists or places used by foreigners. Terrorist attacks are regularly carried out against the security forces in the south east of the country by the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Attacks consist of IEDs and armed assaults and are carried out in both urban and rural areas. There are also occasional occurrences of violent public disorder in the region. The main provinces affected by PKK attacks are Hakkari, Sirnak, Siirt and Tunceli. There is a high level of security activity in these provinces and you risk arrest if you fail to comply with restrictions. We advise against all but essential travel to these areas. There is also a significant level of PKK activity elsewhere in the south east of the country (Van, Bitlis, Bingol, Elazig, Mus, Batman, Erzincan, Diyarbakir, Mardin and Agri). A number of Turkish school teachers were kidnapped in September 2011 by the PKK in southeast Turkey (most notably the Lice, Hazro and Elazig regions of Diyarbakir). Please be especially vigilant when travelling in these areas. Read article