Post by Taxigirl on Nov 21, 2003 10:08:23 GMT
At least 27 people, including four Britons, died in Thursday's attacks
The UK Government has warned of further terrorist attacks in Turkey after the twin suicide bombings in Istanbul that left 27 dead, including four Britons.
Thursday's targets - the British consulate and the headquarters of HSBC bank - were "clearly selected because of their connection to Britain", said the Foreign Office.
Police have also warned there could be an attack within the UK.
Britons have been urged to avoid travelling to major Turkish cities.
"We have information to suggest that further attacks may be attempted," said the Foreign Office website.
The four Britons killed in the two blasts - which injured 450 - include the top UK diplomat in the city, consul-general Roger Short, and his personal assistant Lisa Hallworth, 38.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told a news conference the bombings were a "terrible tragedy" and meant increased co-operation was needed to prevent future attacks.
"We, who represent the civilised world are facing a global threat and we have to deal with it in a global way.
"It was as much an attack against the Turkish people as it was against British interests."
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul revealed at the news conference that several arrests had been made.
A British tourist from Lincoln was reported as losing his Turkish fiancee Hulya Donmez.
Graham Carter told the Sun newspaper the pair had been visiting the consulate to get a visa for Ms Donmez so she could go to Britain and marry him. He said: "I was at the consulate gatehouse when I saw this lorry speed through the gates.
"There was an explosion and... she was gone right in front of me. She was there with me, then she was gone."
Chris Brown of the British Council in Istanbul - which is based one mile from the consulate building - said a number of "advisory notes" had been issued in the last month over security issues.
"But as time passes it is sometimes difficult to maintain the highest levels of security if you are going to carry on doing business," he told BBC Breakfast.
On Thursday Mr Straw flew to Istanbul to view the blast scenes and speak to the injured and bereaved.
Speaking as he picked his way through blast wreckage, he said: "These people are full of hatred, they are fanatics. These attacks are attacks on the whole of humanity."
Sixteen members of London's anti-terrorist police branch are to join the investigation to try to help identify the bombers.
A man who called a Turkish news agency said al-Qaeda and the Turkish Islamic militant group IBDA-C had jointly carried out the attacks.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said there was little doubt the attack was carried out by al-Qaeda or its affiliates.
UK security services have been on heightened alert since last weekend, following intelligence that al-Qaeda supporters were planning an attack in the UK.
Prime Minister Tony Blair vowed Britain would not "flinch" from its war on terror.
Mr Bush, who is visiting Mr Blair's constituency of Sedgefield on Friday, said that despite the bombing, "good progress" was being made in dismantling the al-Qaeda network.
The blasts - the worst terror attacks in Turkish history - came five days after weekend synagogue bombings in the city killed 23.
The Foreign Office issued the following number for people to call for information about those who may have been involved in the blasts: 020 7008 0000.