Turkey: Heightened security in Istanbul ahead of New Year’s Eve /update 1

Event

Turkish authorities are planning to implement heightened security measures in Istanbul ahead of New Year's Eve (Sunday, December 31). The number of police officers deployed in Istanbul to maintain security on Sunday - expected to total around 37,000 police officers - will be more than twice the typical daily deployment. Public New Year's celebrations will be banned in several notable areas of Istanbul, including in Taksim Square; Turkish authorities are expected to restrict public access to Taksim Square and Istiklal Road on Sunday night.

Heightened security measures are also expected in other Turkish cities ahead of New Year's Eve; associated traffic disruptions are expected in Istanbul and other Turkish cities on December 31.

Context

Turkish police recently arrested some 120 suspected Islamic State (IS) affiliates in recent days, according to a Turkish state media statement issued December 28, as part of a larger crackdown on militants in the country.

In 2016, 39 people were killed in an Istanbul night club on New Year's Eve. Abdulkadir Masharipov, the perpetrator of the attack, later confessed that he had originally planned to strike Taksim Square but had to change plans due to heightened security measures.

Although no major attack has been reported in Turkey since December 31, 2016, authorities warn that Turkey remains vulnerable to the threat of terrorist attacks.

Advice

Individuals in Istanbul are advised to remain vigilant, avoid main roads and squares overnight between December 31 and January 1, obey all instructions issued by the authorities, and report any suspicious objects or activities to the local authorities.

Due to the Turkish government's ongoing conflicts with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as well as the Islamic State (IS), some Western governments advise against travel to areas along the Syrian and Iraqi borders, as well as nonessential travel to the provinces of Şırnak, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Şanlıurfa, Kilis, Hatay, Siirt, Tunceli, and Hakkâri.