The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) maintains in its updated Turkey travel advice that the risk of terror attacks is present in the country. Turkey is a popular destination among many British holidaymakers, offering both mild temperature at seaside resorts during the autumn and winter and a cheaper cost-of-living than the UK.
However, the FCDO advises Brits against all travel to the area of the country located 10km within the border with Syria. To all other areas, it urges Brits to check its travel advice before departing. The FCDO advice was last updated on December 10, but it’s still deemed current on December 25. In its advice, the FCDO also notes there is a “high treat” of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals.
Speaking about terrorism in Turkey, it also says: “Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Turkey. Most terrorist attacks have occurred in southeast Turkey, Ankara and Istanbul.
“You should remain aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.”
The FCDO advice also says that attacks involving “knives, firearms and explosives” could be “indiscriminate including in places visited by foreign nationals”.
While the office says “no travel can be guaranteed safe”, millions of Brits head to the country every year. In 2024 alone, a total of 4.4 million UK travellers visited Turkey, up 16.6% from the previous year.
The FCDO advice was issued before authorities in Turkey revealed to have detained 115 suspected members of the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS).
This came following coordinated raids across Turkey, targeting alleged plots linked to Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Arrest warrants for a total of 137 suspects allegedly preparing attacks in Turkey over the festive period were issued by authorities, Istanbul’s chief prosecutor said.
Turkish police raided 124 addresses across Istanbul. While 115 people were taken into custody, efforts to capture the remaining 22 continue.
The Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement on Thursday, December 25: “Information was found that the ISIS Armed Terrorist Organisation was planning to carry out actions targeting our country, especially non-Muslim individuals, within the scope of the upcoming Christmas and New Year events.
“They were in contact with conflict zones within the scope of terrorist organization activities.”
During the operation, police officers seized pistols, ammunition and what officials described as organisational documents.
In 2017, Istanbul was struck by an ISIS attack on the Reina nightclub during New Year celebration, which killed dozens of people.
