Turkish clasico Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derby postponed due to intel warning of attack
ISTANBUL
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A derby match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, which was scheduled to be played on March 20 at 8 p.m., has been postponed by the Interior Ministry due to security concerns.The Istanbul Governor’s Office first announced that the match would be played without supporters due to the March 19 suicide attack in Istanbul, leading officials to remove supporters from Galatasaray’s Türk Telekom Arena who had already arrived for the match.
After the statement, Galatasaray demanded that the game be postponed.
Security measures have been taken around the stadium and a police helicopter hovered around the stadium.
On March 19 five people were killed and 39 were injured in a suicide attack on Istanbul’s İstiklal Avenue that was committed by Mehmet Öztürk of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), according to Interior Minister Efkan Ala.