Terrifying new travel advice has been issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, warning Britons of active terrorist groups plotting attacks in the Mediterranean country.
Holidaymakers visiting beach resorts, particularly those from Britain, are at risk of kidnap, suicide bombings, car bombings, rocket attacks and improvised explosives.
More than 2.5 million Britons visit Turkey every year and this year is expected to be as popular as ever, with the pound rocketing by more than 16 per cent against the lira in the last 12 months.
But the nation, which has a 98.9 per cent Muslim population, has also been rocked by western Islamic fanatics attempting to enter Syria to join Islamic State, as well as homegrown terror groups striking in acts of rebellion against the government, police and judiciary.
Istanbul, which attracts 7.5 million tourists every year, has been listed as a specific potential target by the Foreign Office, which has described the threat of terrorism there as ‘high’.
Raffaello Pantucci, of defence think tank Royal United Services Institute, said: “Turkey and Syria are very dangerous environments. » | Helen Barnett Exclusive | Sunday, June 14, 2015
