The Consulate General of the Netherlands in Istanbul, located in an area near the scene of Saturday's deadly terror attack, was temporarily closed down yesterday, the Dutch Foreign Ministry announced.
A statement on the ministry's website said the consulate was closed because of "a possible terror threat this morning." A statement by Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders urged Dutch citizens in Istanbul to avoid the immediate vicinity of the consulate building and follow the Foreign Ministry's statements for developments. Quoted by the ministry's website, Koenders said the safety of staff and visitors to the consulate had the highest priority but did not elaborate on details of the threat.
The move comes after the German Consulate in Istanbul, along with a German school, decided to close over security threats a few days before the attack on İstiklal Avenue, where the Dutch consulate is located. Three Israeli nationals and an Iranian citizen were killed when a DAESH member conducted the suicide bombing on the busy avenue on March 19. Dutch Consul General Robert Schuddeboom was praised for his solidarity with Turkey following the attack, as he tweeted a photo of himself going out shopping after the attack despite security concerns. Schuddeboom also joined other diplomats on March 22 for an anti-terror protest march on İstiklal Avenue.
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