UK lifts warning on Turkey travel

Part of the British consulate was destroyed in last month's attack

The UK Foreign Office has lifted its warning against non-essential travel to Istanbul and other major Turkish cities.

The move comes "in response to a change in the assessment of the immediate threat", a statement said.

Travel advice still says there is a "high threat from terrorism" in Turkey. The warning last month came after more than 60 people were killed in bomb attacks on the British consulate and the HSBC bank's HQ in Istanbul.

Only last week, the Foreign Office suggested that further terrorist attacks in Turkey might be "imminent".

We urge you to be vigilant in all parts of the country and especially in the vicinity of potential terrorist targets The Foreign Office last week

Istanbul and the capital, Ankara, were among the likely targets, it said.

"We urge you to be vigilant in all parts of the country and especially in the vicinity of potential terrorist targets," travellers were told, adding to its advice against non-essential travel.

It said sites symbolising the political, religious and economic values of western countries, including the UK, were particularly at risk.

The warning prompted anger from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who criticised Britain for not sharing intelligence on future attacks.

"If there is a common platform against international terrorism, this information must be given to the concerned country," he said.

"If the source for this information is sound... it should not be given to the media".

Attacks 'connected'

Mr Erdogan was speaking after 12 people were charged in connection with the attacks on the British consulate and HSBC on November 20, and six over attacks five days previously on synagogues, in which 25 people died.

The bombings were linked, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera quoted him as saying.

"The attacks, in terms of the way they were carried out, are similar and the terrorists who struck on 15 November and those who struck five days later were in some way connected," he told the paper.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office told Reuters the information was shared with others, including those affected by a threat, whenever possible.