US says it is closing down its embassy in Turkey

The United States embassy in Ankara, Turkey has issued a statement saying it would be closed to the public for the meantime as a result of unspecified security threats which it failed to divulge.

Reports say hours after the US embassy in Ankara said it would remain closed for the day due to a “security threat”, 12 people were reportedly arrested by Turkish police in the capital in an investigation of an armed group.

Read also: Reconsider travelling to Burkina Faso “due to terrorism”, US tell its citizens

According to state Anadolu Agency, the arrested suspects were among 20 people for whom detention warrants were recently issued by the Ankara state prosecutors’ office.

The embassy which noted that only emergency services would be provided advised US citizens in Turkey to avoid large crowds and the embassy building, and to be aware of their own security when visiting popular tourist sites and crowded places.

The development is coming two days after the US issued a travel advisory to its citizens to shelve any plans to travel to Burkina Faso due to terrorism in the West African country.

 

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