US Orders Family Members of Istanbul Consulate Employees to Leave

Photos.com/Thinkstock(ISTANBUL) — The U.S. State Department is now ordering family members of Istanbul consulate staff to leave the country.

In a statement Saturday, the State Department said the decision was made “based on security information indicating extremist groups are continuing aggressive efforts to attack U.S. citizens in areas of Istanbul where they reside or frequent.”

The State Department added that the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul was still open and fully staffed. Other U.S. diplomatic posts in Turkey are not included in the order.

The advisory was issued in addition to the State Department’s continued warning for Americans to avoid travel to southeast Turkey and to consider the risks of traveling in the country.

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