Straw condemns Turkey 'fanatics'

At least 27 people, including four Britons, died in Thursday's attacks

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has called the bombers behind the Istanbul blasts "fanatics full of hatred".

He spoke as the Foreign Office warned other attacks were possible in Turkey. Police have also warned there could be an attack within the UK.

At least 27, including four Britons, died in the two blasts - both outside British targets - with 450 injured.

The attacks overshadowed the continuing state visit to Britain of US President George Bush.

The Foreign Office urged Britons not to travel to major Turkish cities unless it was absolutely essential.

Attack warning

Its website said Thursday's targets - the British consulate and the Istanbul headquarters of the London-based HSBC bank - were "clearly selected because of their connection to Britain".

And it said: "We have information to suggest that further attacks may be attempted."

Security measures were in place and police were watching the buildings Chris Brown British Council in Istanbul UK terror fears after Turkey blast

But speaking from Istanbul Mr Straw said Britain's "support and affection" for Turkey was undented, and its application to join the European Union unaffected.

"Far from this hurting Turkey's application to join the EU, it will increase the determination of all of us to see Turkey a full member of the EU," he said on Friday.

The four Britons killed include the top UK diplomat in the city, consul-general Roger Short, and his personal assistant Lisa Hallworth, 38, who comes from Manchester.

British tourist Graham Carter, from Lincoln, was reported as losing his Turkish fiancee, named as Hulya Donmez.

'I was there'

Mr Carter was quoted in the Sun newspaper saying they 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."

This does not look like an enemy in post-9/11 retreat - this does not look like a war that is being won Guardian newspaper Papers' outrage at Turkey attacks

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.

"Security measures were in place and police were watching the buildings.

"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.

He said the British Council offices had been closed for the time being, and staff were in discussions with Foreign Office security advisors and local police.

Al-Qaeda 'hallmarks'

On Thursday Mr Straw flew to Istanbul to view the blast scenes for himself 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.

"When you look at what has happened, when you consider the deaths of people who were entirely innocent, you can only express disbelief about what these people are doing.

"We have to fight terrorism and not allow it to defeat us.

"I know we stand united with the Turkish people in that."

We are at the highest level of alert in the country and we can go no further... do not be alarmed, be alert, if there is anything suspicious get in contact with police Met Police commissioner Sir John Stevens Leaders unite to condemn terror

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.

"It's got all their hallmarks. They were suicidal, they used truck bombs and high explosives... they were very finely co-ordinated, they attacked Western interests.

'Extra security'

"And interestingly, as with almost all the big hits by al-Qaeda, they didn't give a stuff about killing civilians from the local community who happened to be in the way.

"Furthermore, about a month ago Osama Bin Laden issued a warning threatening retaliation against all the nations that are taking part in Iraq. Top of the list was Britain."

UK security services have been on heightened alert since last weekend, following intelligence that al-Qaeda supporters were planning an attack in the UK.

Click below for a more detailed map of the blast sites

Enlarge Map

The British Ambassador to Turkey Peter Westmacott said there had been no specific intelligence of a security threat at the consulate or other British interests.

"We did have extra security, sadly it wasn't enough," he told the ITV News Channel.

The blasts - the worst terror attacks in Turkish history - came five days after weekend synagogue bombings in the city killed 23.

The Queen sent a message saying that she was "deeply shocked" at the attacks and expressed her sympathy to "all caught up in these evil acts of terrorism".

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who visited Istanbul and met the consul general earlier this week, spoke of his "shock and grief".

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.