Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Bombing on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul

According to media reports, a bomb has exploded on Istiklal Avenue in the Taksim area of Istanbul. There are reported injuries and deaths, and emergency personnel and police have arrived at the scene. For your personal safety, we urge you to avoid that area and to monitor local media.

We strongly encourage U.S. citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster your personal security.

For further detailed information regarding Turkey and travel:

Note: The time-stamp on this e-mail message may reflect Washington, D.C., time, which may differ from local time.