Tight security measures for New Year celebrations across Turkey

ISTANBUL/ANKARA

DHA Photo

Tight security measures are set to be taken for New Year celebrations in the capital Ankara and in Istanbul, after a year of deadly terror attacks that have shaken the country’s major urban centers.

According to the measures, heavy tonnage vehicles won’t be allowed to enter seven districts in Istanbul for 24 hours. Trucks, lorries and concrete mixers are among the vehicles banned for the day by Istanbul police department, Doğan News Agency reported. 

“In order to not allow any negativity to take place regarding New Year precautions, the entrance of heavy tonnage vehicles such as trucks, lorries and concrete mixers won’t be allowed in the Sarıyer, Şişli, Beşiktaş, Beyoğlu, Fatih, Bakırköy and Kadıköy districts starting from 8 a.m. on Dec. 31 until 8 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2017,” read a statement released by the police. 

Precautions are also being taken in the capital Ankara, with police banning the entrance of all vehicles to the central Kızılay Square. 

“We are closing to traffic the areas where we think the number of people will be intense,” Ankara Governor Ercan Topaca told state-run Anadolu Agency, adding that the Governor’s Office “holds people’s security above all else.” 

“In order to provide people’s security, the precautions we take such as ‘controlled entrance to areas and body searches’ are not unique to Turkey; they are implemented all over the world,” Topaca added. 

As in Istanbul, the practice will begin at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 and will end at 8 a.m. the next day. 

“Maybe our citizens will have to walk because we are closing roads to traffic, but we expect understanding from them regarding the issue,” the governor said. 

Turkey has been hit by a series of deadly bomb attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) throughout 2016.