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Australia Warns of Possible Gallipoli Terror Attack | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A Turkish soldier stands guard, on March 18, 2015 in the northwestern province of Canakkale, during a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli. AFP/File | Ozan Kose


Australia Thursday warned terrorists could target Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey later in the month, urging travelers to avoid Ankara and Istanbul.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement that Turkish authorities were aware of the information “and traditionally provide a high level of protective security around Anzac Day commemorations on the peninsula”.

The emotive event on April 25 remembers the heroism and sacrifice of Australians and New Zealanders during World War I and their campaign against the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

“The Turkish authorities are taking this extremely seriously. The celebrations on Gallipoli are as important to the Turkish authorities and Turkish people as they are to the Australians,” said Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dan Tehan.

“They are taking it seriously, in terms of the security envelope for the sake of everybody on the peninsula.”

While Canberra’s advice to travelers had not changed from “exercise a high degree of caution” in Gallipoli and Turkey overall, it said they should “reconsider their need to travel to Ankara and Istanbul”.

“We are conscious of the effect of this on the many Australians planning to attend this year’s Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli,” added Tehan.

“In the current global environment, major events attract threats of varying degrees of credibility. Regrettably Anzac Day is not immune.”

Hundreds of Australians and New Zealanders annually make the trip to Gallipoli to mark the amphibious assaults on the peninsula in what is now western Turkey.

Many were killed in the initial assault and the overall Allied campaign ended in failure and evacuation.