Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Directions: Tourists ‘will be hurt’ in Turkey
Chris Haslam

July 17, 2005

The Kurdish terrorist faction responsible for a bomb that injured 21, including one Briton, in the Turkish resort of Cesme last week has warned tourists that if they come to Turkey “they will be injured”.

In a statement, the Kurdish Freedom Falcons (TAK) announced a summer bombing campaign that, they claim, will be “worse than Iraq”, warning that no distinction will be made between government, military and civilian targets.

Little is known about the group which was formed in August last year by Kurdish dissidents disillusioned with the stagnation of the struggle between the Turkish government and the main separatist groups such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the People’s Defence Force (HPG). TAK has claimed responsibility for 16 recent attacks that killed two people and injured 113.

The warning was echoed by the HPG commander, Suleyman Shahin, who called on tourists to “choose much safer places for their holidays”. Distancing himself from the TAK, he said: “We will never target tourists — and if they are hurt, we will be the first people to be sorry.”

As separatist violence has spiralled in the north of the country, the Foreign Office (FO) advises that “there is a high threat from terrorism in Turkey”, adding: “Our travel advice is under constant review. We urge travellers to remain vigilant at all times.”

The tour operator Thomson confirmed that itineraries to Turkey would be unchanged until specific advice was received from the FO.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2100-1696281,00.html