Roundup: Aussie FM defies terror warnings to visit Turkey for Anzac Day commemorations

One of the smallest crowds in recent memory is expected to grace the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey for Anzac Day commemorations on Tuesday; however, the nation's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will make a surprise appearance despite the terror threat level in the region.

Local media on Monday reported that Bishop would be in attendance at the dawn service commemorations, despite the threat of terror attacks in Turkey keeping thousands of Australians away.

Anzac Day is held on April 25 each year, on the anniversary of the first landings of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The offensive was deemed one of the biggest failures in modern war, but is memorable for the mateship and comradery shown between allied soldiers.

Bishop has been announced as one of the few VIPs to attend the service. The foreign minister, who quietly left Australia at the weekend, will lay a wreath during the commemorations for which just 700 Australians have registered to attend.

Authorities have confirmed that at least 2,000 police and military officers will guard the site during the services, meaning that for each person attending the event, there will be at least one security member.

In response to the predicted poor turnout, former Australian Defence Minister and current Director of the Australian War Memorial Brendan Nelson said it was only natural that tourists would be hesitant to attend the memorials in the face of terror threats, but admitted it was disappointing that Australians did not feel safe traveling to the area.

"Sadly, it looks (likely) that (crowd numbers will be down). We know that around 700 people have registered to attend the Dawn Service and other ceremonies in Anzac Cove this year. In 2007, when I was Minister of Defence, I had the privilege of addressing the dawn service and there were 10,000 people there," Nelson told Macquarie Radio overnight.

"To think that as a result of the threats, which are real and exist in Europe and Turkey, so few people feel safe enough to travel is extraordinarily disappointing. But that is the world we are living in."

Nelson also briefly spoke about security measures which had been implemented at the War Memorial in Canberra in preparation for the national day of remembrance. He said that, in addition to additional security forces being present, bollards had been arranged to avoid truck attacks such as those which occurred in France, Germany and Sweden in recent months.

"There is no specific threat as far as events are concerned at the War Memorial. We have undertaken additional precautions this year," Nelson said.

"Visitors will notice that there are certain things we have done that would make it more difficult to undertake some of the attacks seen in other parts of the world, including those with large vehicles."

Meanwhile, Australians who have committed to making the trip say they have considered the risks, but have followed through with their plans after the government did not raise its Turkey terror threat level from the current "reconsider the need to travel."

Vynette Smith, who is traveling to Gallipoli with her family, said that it was risky traveling in any European city.

"When the Istanbul airport terror attack happened we sat down and talked about it as a family. It has been an eye opener and we are all aware of our security, but we could get hit by a car on any day. The only concession we made was to rule out visiting Istanbul," she told News Corp on Monday. Endit