Embassy of the United States of America
Ankara, Turkey
A recent anonymous posting on a Jihadist website encouraged attacks against American and other international schools in the Middle East, including western teachers employed at these schools. That message referenced schools in the localities of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Maadi (Egypt) as examples, and these two cities as locations with high concentrations of potential targets. The U.S. Embassy is unaware of any specific, credible threat against any American school or individual in Turkey. Nonetheless, the Embassy and Consulates are working with local schools identified with the United States to review their security posture. U.S. citizens residing in or visiting Turkey should remain vigilant regarding their personal security and alert to local security developments.
It is always advisable to keep your security and situational awareness levels high. Please follow these good personal security practices:
- Vary your times and your routes. Being unpredictable is your best protection.
- Avoid crowds or large gatherings when traveling in public;
- Know where you are going and have a plan of what to do in the event you encounter demonstrations or violence;
- Identify safe areas (for example police stations, hospitals, government buildings) in your area and how to get to them quickly;
- Tell co-workers or neighbors where you’re going and when you intend to return;
- Minimize your profile while in public;
- Always carry a cell phone and make sure you have emergency numbers pre-programmed into your phone such as Embassy and Consulate phone numbers (see below). The emergency numbers for Police, Fire, and Rescue is 110.
- Be prepared to postpone or cancel activities for personal safety concerns;Report concerns you may have to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in (Country) enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Department of State’s, Bureau of Consular Affairs website, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review the “Traveler’s Checklist,” which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad, and enroll with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or outside the United States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
Contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Turkey:
The U.S. Embassy in Ankara is located at 110 Ataturk Boulevard, tel: (90)(312) 455-5555, fax (90)(312) 468-6131.
The U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul is located at 2 Uçsehitler Sokagi, 34460, Istinye, Sariyer, tel: (90) (212) 335-9000, fax (90) (212) 335-9102.
The U.S. Consulate in Adana is located at 212 Girne Bulvari, Guzelevler Mahallesi, Yuregir, Adana, Turkey. tel: (90)(322) 346-6262, fax (90)(322) 346-7916.
The Consular Agency in Izmir can be contacted at izmir@state.gov.
