Security Warning to Iranians Regarding Travel to Turkey

One day after a suicide bombing in downtown Istanbul that resulted in the death of one Iranian and injuries to three others, the Iranian embassy in Ankara issued a security warning to Iranian travelers planning to visit Turkey. According to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), the Iranian embassy in Turkey stated: "Expressing condolences to the families of the injured and deceased Iranians in the criminal incident in Istanbul, we hereby recommend and request our dear compatriots to avoid crowded places and gatherings while adhering to the regulations and security warnings of the host country's authorities." In the suicide attack on Saturday on Istiklal Street, near Taksim Square in Istanbul, one Iranian national and two Israeli citizens were killed, and over 39 people, most of whom are reported to be foreign tourists, were injured. Among the injured are three Iranians and ten Israeli nationals. According to Agence France-Presse, Israel also advised its citizens on Sunday to refrain from traveling to Turkey due to the security situation. Meanwhile, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu stated on Sunday that the suicide bomber from the Istanbul explosion has been identified as "Mohammad Ozturk." The minister added that "Mohammad Ozturk" is affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS), and Turkish police have arrested five others in connection with the Saturday explosion. The Istanbul explosion occurred six days after a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in a crowded area of Ankara, killing 35 people; a group of Kurdish rebels claimed responsibility for the Ankara explosion.