Turks step up security

Turkish Grand Prix organisers have moved to quash fears over this weekend’s race in Istanbul by increasing security at the Istanbul Otodrom in the wake of last month’s terror attacks on London.

Mumtaz Tahincioglu, president of the Turkish motorsport federation TOSFED, revealed today that nearly 3,000 armed officers will be on duty this weekend to ensure a safe weekend’s racing.

Race organisers have doubled the number of unarmed security guards following the tube and bus bombings in London, meaning 4,000 will now patrol the circuit throughout the weekend.

Turkey’s military police will contribute another 2,000 armed officers to the £40million venue, to be helped by 800 armed representatives of the Istanbul police as well as an undisclosed number of plain-clothes operatives.

Tahincioglu is confident the security in place this weekend, which is similar to that used in May’s Champions League final in the city, will ensure a trouble-free grand prix.

“What has happened around the world in recent months mean you have to do something extra,” he said. “We have discussed those with the governor of Istanbul, the mayor of Istanbul and the Prime Minister.

“We have decided the security we had planned needed to be doubled. The measures taken here should be enough to make sure everything goes according to plan.

“I myself, and along with my colleagues, feel we are very comfortable with all the measures and to be honest take other occasions like the Champions League final where we had the same security system, that went very well.

“Once you have a system that works I think you don’t want to change it.

“What we are doing here will definitely signal to people that there are serious measures taken here, don’t try to do anything silly.”

There have been 16 terrorist bombings in Turkey this year alone and Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office “believe that international terrorist groups, as well as Kurdish separatist ones, are currently active in Turkey“.

“Further attacks, including in tourist areas, could well occur,” their advice adds.