UK, European holidaymakers warned against Turkey travel as government blames Kurdish militia for unrest

British tourists are being told to be vigilant if traveling to Turkey after security officials warned of “terror nests” in bordering countries, especially Kurdish militia. (AFP)

• Despite Daesh militants attacking foreigners and Turkish citizens in recent years, the Turkish government has said Kurdish militia are to blame for unrest
• British citizens told to avoid all travel within 10 kilometers of the Syrian border

LONDON: British tourists are being told to be vigilant if traveling to Turkey after security officials warned of “terror nests” in bordering countries posing a significant threat to holidaymakers, Anadolu News Agency reported on Sunday,
The Anadolu statement said that cells in Afrin “pose a threat to Turkey.”
The warning comes as more Europeans — especially tourists from the UK — travel to Turkey for their summer holidays. UK nationals made up 2.3 million of annual visits to the country in 2018.
Despite Daesh militants attacking foreigners and Turkish citizens in recent years, the Turkish government has said Kurdish militia are to blame for the unrest.
Anadolu tweeted: “There are currently 8,000-10,000 terrorists in the Afrin region near Aleppo, near the Turkish-Syrian border, which has been besieged by the PYD/PKK.
“Terrorists are now hiding in shelters and pits in residential areas in Afrin after Turkey pointed out the region was a nest for terrorists
“No US soldiers are currently in Afrin while around 100 Russian military police are located in Tel Rifat, Tel Acar and Kefer Cenne areas.”
86 people were killed in a bomb blast in the capital Ankara in 2015, while a further 45 were killed during an attack on Ataturk Airport a year later. Meanwhile, in 2017, 39 revellers were killed in Istanbul as they welcomed the new year.
The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as of April 28, is telling British citizens to avoid all travel within 10 kilometers of the Syrian border, with a warning that states: “Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Turkey. Terrorist groups, including Kurdish groups, Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL) and far left organizations, continue to plan and carry out attacks.”
Speaking to the UK’s Daily Star last year, Michael McCabe, CEO of risk awareness experts Intelligence Fusion, said the country faces a number of new crises, which could put holidaymakers at risk.
“President Erdogan’s government faces a range of diverse internal and external threats,” he said.
“The conflicts in Iraq and Syria on its border, separatist Kurdish groups, and significant opposition to the government.”