German embassy, consulate in Turkey closed for second day over threat of possible attack

ANKARA

A police officer stands guard outside the German Consulate, which is closed on indications of a possible imminent attack, in Istanbul, Turkey March 17, 2016. REUTERS photo

The German Embassy in Ankara and the German Consulate in Istanbul have remained closed for a second day over the threat of a possible attack after German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said they had received very serious intelligence about a possible terror attack against German missions in Turkey on March 17.

Security measures are continuing in front of the German Consulate in Istanbul building with armored police vehicles.

“We have received very concrete intelligences over the fact that there have been preparations for terror attacks at German representation offices in Turkey. Therefore, I decided for the closure of Embassy in Ankara, Consulate in Istanbul and German schools in the two cities last night. This was a necessary precaution for the protection of German citizens and working people have priority,” German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier said at an urgent press meeting in Berlin on March 17.

Steinmeier also advised German citizens to closely follow travel warnings in the upcoming days.

Meanwhile, German embassy officials in Ankara told Hürriyet Daily News the move was a “one-day precaution taken due to [an] unconfirmed indication of an attack.”

Accordingly, the German consulate in Istanbul and the Deutsche Schule Istanbul school have also been closed.

“The German Federal Republic Consulate is closed as precaution due to a serious warning,” a note at the entrance of the consulate building read.

The Deutsche Schule Istanbul also announced the suspension of classes for one day due to security reasons.
The school management issued a message to parents and students saying the school would be closed for one day on March 17 following a warning from the German consulate in Istanbul.

In addition, Turkish police stood watch for about two hours in front of the German Consulate building in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul as well as riot police and a riot control vehicle were deployed to the area.

Police also towed a car parked on the consulate’s street that belonged to a Syrian living in Turkey.