The Australian government has issued a warning for anyone who’s planning on travelling to Gallipoli for this year’s Anzac Day commemorations.
Updating its warning on Smart Traveller, it claims that the government has received information that suggests the event could be a target for terrorist attacks.
The overall level of advice for visiting Turkey remains at the same level, suggesting travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution”.
The new warning for Gallipoli reads:
“There is information which suggests terrorists may seek to target Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
“Turkish authorities are aware of this information and traditionally provide a high level of protective security around Anzac Day commemorations on the peninsula. The level of our advice for the Gallipoli region remains unchanged.
“We continue to advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Ankara and Istanbul because of the high threat of terrorist attack. We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Turkey overall. Higher levels apply in some parts of Turkey.”
Per News Corp, Veterans Affairs Minister Dan Tehan spoke to the media today about the update.
“Unfortunately, in the current global environment, major events attract threats of varying degrees.
“Regrettably, Anzac Day is not immune.”
Australian Federal Police deputy commissioner Mike Phelan also told media that the AFP had been working with Turkish authorities, but was unable to go into further detail about the threats and information they’d received.
“We do understand that the information suggests that terrorists may attack the peninsula. It is nothing more specific than that.”
The Anzac Day events at Gallipoli are still set to go ahead as planned.
