Holidaymakers have been alerted to stricter security measures when visiting Turkey, a destination favoured for its beach getaways and city breaks. The country faced a harrowing terrorist incident earlier this week, where an attack on an aerospace firm in Kahramankazan, roughly40km from the capital Ankara, resulted in at least five fatalities and 22 injuries on Wednesday, October 23.
The two attackers were also killed. Following the event, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its guidance on Thursday, with any UK citizens in the vicinity urged to pay attention to local advice and keep up-to-date via news outlets. A second alert from the FCDO now warns travellers to expect more stringent security measures at Turkish airports.
As stated on the Gov.uk website: “While the incident has ended, the response is ongoing, including increased security measures at Turkish airports, which means security checks will take longer than normal. If you are in the area near the attack, follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local media.”
StaySure, a travel insurance provider, notes that Turkey is the sixth most-chosen retreat for Brits going abroad during this October’s school half-term.