German consulate shut in Turkey over heightened threats of attack

By Mirjam Schmitt, dpa l Wednesday, February 1, 2023

 

TURKEY – The German Consulate in Istanbul will be closed today due to a heightened threat of attack in Turkey’s biggest city, the German Foreign Ministry said.

Consequently Germany  has warned its citizens in Istanbul that the risk of attack is particularly high in the central district of Beyoğlu and around the heavily trafficked Taksim Square.

The ministry said the move to close the consulate was made following “the assessment of the security authorities” and urged citizens to be especially vigilant and avoid crowds.

Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, as well as the United States, already warned their nationals last week of an increased risk of attack in Turkey. The US tightened its warning on Monday to specify Istanbul.

Turkey, in turn, had warned its citizens of attacks in Europe and the United States.Tensions between Turkey and some European countries have flared over protests Ankara considers Islamophobic or anti-Turkish.

Most recently, the right-wing extremist Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan had set a Koran on fire in front of a mosque in Stockholm, threatening to do this every week until Turkey approved Sweden’s accession to NATO.

In recent weeks, several similar actions across Europe have sparked outrage in Turkey. Those included an effigy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan being strung up in Stockholm and Koran pages torn up in the Netherlands.

Sweden, along with Finland, wants to join NATO as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine. All 30 current NATO members must agree to this. Turkey and Hungary have not yet said yes.

Erdoğan on Wednesday once again held out the prospect that he could allow Finland to join, but not Sweden. Finland’s case is viewed “positively,” Erdogan said at a cabinet meeting in the capital. “But we do not look positively at Sweden, let it be said.

“Sweden, do not strive in vain!” he said. “As long as you and your security forces allow my holy book, the Koran, to be burned and torn up, we will not agree to your joining NATO.”

Erdoğan has also accused both of the prospective members of supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Syrian Kurdish militia YPG, both of which Turkey classifies as terrorist groups.