Update: Germany closes missions, schools in Turkey over security threat
Xinhua, March 17, 2016 Adjust font size:
Germany on Thursday closed its diplomatic missions and schools in Turkey's capital Ankara and its largest city, Istanbul, citing unspecified security threats.
The decision was made following "unconfirmed warning" of a possible attack, the German Foreign Ministry said.
Private German High School in Istanbul announced on its website that it would be closed for one day.
Both the consulate general and the high school are located around Taksim Square at the center of Istanbul.
German citizens were urged to stay away from the area, while the closures have reportedly triggered panic among the Turks.
Turkey has remained on high alert following several terror attacks in Ankara and Istanbul.
On Sunday, a suicide car bombing hit Ankara, the capital, killing 37 people and injuring more than 100 others.
On Feb. 17, another suicide car bomb targeted military shuttles in the capital city, killing 29 and injuring 81 others.
The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks, a Kurdish militant group linked to the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), have claimed responsibility for both attacks.
In January, 12 German tourists were killed in a suicide attack in Istanbul.
On Oct. 10, 2015, suspected Islamic State (IS) militants bombed a peace rally near Ankara railway station, killing 103 people. Endit