US warns Americans in Turkey of 'imminent terrorist' attacks 

The US diplomatic mission in Turkey updated its previous security alert for Americans in Turkey on Monday, warning its nationals of a “possible imminent” attack on Westerners in response to Quran-burning protests in Europe over the past few weeks. 

“The US government cautions its citizens of possible imminent retaliatory attacks by terrorists against churches, synagogues and diplomatic missions in Istanbul or other places Westerners frequent, especially in the Beyoglu, Galata, Taksim, and Istiklal areas,” the embassy said, naming Istanbul’s popular touristic neighborhoods.

The warning came after several Western countries’ diplomatic missions in Turkey including France, Spain and the United States warned their citizens last Friday that retaliatory attacks on Westerners were possible following a series of protests in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands in which copies of  Islam’s holy book were burned.

On Monday evening, Turkish authorities raised security levels to maximum alert against possible retaliatory attacks from Islamic State or Al Qaeda affiliated groups and added that intelligence shared by foreign countries on the issue are being assessed.