Tourists advised to be vigilant

THE Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday warned Irish people planning to travel to Turkey, or who are already there, to be “particularly vigilant”.

The advice follows the death of five people, including Irish tourist Tara Whelan, in a bus bombing in the popular coastal resort of Kusadasi on Saturday.

“In any situation we review our travel advice, particularly after an incident like this,” said a department spokesperson.

“In the interim, we are advising people to exercise every caution and to be particularly vigilant.”

Saturday’s outrage came six days after a bombing in the nearby town of Cesme, which left at least 20 people injured.

Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for that attack, as well as one in Kusadasi in April, in which one policeman was killed and four other people were wounded.

Militants both from the far left and from Islamist circles have also carried out bombings in Turkey in the past.

Up to 5,500 Irish tourists are estimated to travel to Kusadasi over the peak summer season.

Tour operators reckon there could be 1,500 Irish tourists in the region at the moment.

The Irish Tour Operators Federation said that few of those flying out to Kusadasi yesterday chose to do so despite the bombing.

A spokesperson said any Irish tourists who wished to cancel or defer their holidays to the resort could do so without any penalty.

“Our representatives in the resort are working closely with our guests to keep them updated and informed,” said the spokesperson.

She said tour operators would meet this week to decide on the policy on future departures.

Two friends of 17-year-old Tara Whelan, twin sisters Tracey and Lyndsey Galgey, who were holidaying with Ms Whelan in Kusadasi, arrived back in Dublin Airport yesterday, but were too upset to speak about the attack.

Other Irish tourists flying back from Kusadasi were shocked.

“We had been warned at the resort to avoid touristy areas,” said one woman.

“Some of the people that were staying behind, who were staying there for another week, they’re not going to leave the hotel.

“They don’t know what to do.

“There’s talk of expecting more bombs.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said he was pressing his counterparts in Turkey to boost security.

“I have instructed our ambassador in Turkey to request the Turkish authorities to review security arrangements in tourist resorts in Turkey in the wake of this attack to ensure the safety of Irish and other holidaymakers.”

The minister said he was deeply shocked by the outrage and expressed his condolences to the Whelan family.

“I call on the Turkish authorities to pursue those responsible with the utmost vigour and to bring them to justice.”

A spokesperson for the department said one of the consular officers from the Irish embassy in Ankara flew down to Kusadasi on Sunday morning.

“He’s been meeting with authorities, police, the mayor and the equivalent of the district attorney, to help with the transportation of the remains back to Ireland.

It’s understood that the process could take up to six days.”

Contrary to earlier reports, he said there were no other Irish people killed or injured in the terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, Tánaiste Mary Harney condemned the atrocity as a wanton act of mindless malice. “It has visited unimaginable tragedy on the family of Tara Whelan and I can only extend to them my deepest and heartfelt sympathies,” she said.