Security prompts Britain to close Turkish embassy for day

ISTANBUL – Britain says it’s embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara will be closed on Friday for security reasons.

The British government posted the one-day closure notice on its official website on Thursday, but did not elaborate on the reasons for the decision.

It also advised against all travel to within 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) of Turkey’s border with Syria and to the city of Diyarbakir in the country’s southeast.

Turkey launched military operations into northern Syria last month to battle back Islamic State group fighters and to contain the expansion of Syrian Kurdish militia.

Britain’s announcement came a day after Germany temporarily closed its embassy, all other consular offices and a school in Turkey following a newspaper report about fears of a possible attack.

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