Istanbul, October 23: An unprecedented alert was sounded by the US Embassy in Turkey on Friday, as it warned Americans and other foreign nationals on the Turkish soil of a "potential terrorist attack". The warning was based on inputs received from the US Intelligence agency. The Embassy in Ankara and all its affiliated consulates across Turkey suspended the visa operations after the alert was issued. Azerbaijan-Turkey-Pakistan: A New Axis of Evil Against Armenia and India?

"The US Mission in Turkey has received credible reports of potential terrorist attacks and kidnappings against US citizens and foreign nationals in Istanbul, including against the US Consulate General, as well as potentially other locations in Turkey," said a statement issued by the US Embassy.

Update by AFP

An Embassy spokesperson, who spoke to news agency AP, said their mission was grateful to the Turkish government which has strengthened the security outside the consulates in view of the alert. The warning, he claimed, was based on the continuous security assessment of the region.

Notably, Turkey has been affected by extremism of the proscribed terrorist organisation Islamic State (ISIS) as well as the far-left militants affiliated to the PKK group, which is battling for an independent Kurdistan.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 23, 2020 06:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).