Security up worldwide after Istanbul attack

Security up worldwide after Istanbul attack

Agencies, Paris/Hong Kong/Jakarta

Countries worldwide stepped up security on Friday, especially around U.S. and British installations, in the wake of Thursday's suicide bombings in Istanbul that left 27 people dead and 450 people injured.

The increased police presence at embassies, consulates and religious sites in capitals around the globe, especially in Europe, came as Washington and London warned against travel to Turkey, saying further attacks were possible.

A total of 52 people have been killed in a week in four bombings in Istanbul -- 25 on Saturday at two synagogues and 27 more in Thursday's strikes against the British consulate and the offices of British banking giant HSBC.

In Turkey, tough security measures were introduced around key sites including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office, while some embassies, shopping malls and schools have been closed, according to press reports.

The U.S. State Department said the U.S. embassy in Ankara and consulates in Istanbul, Adana and Izmir remained open to provide services to U.S. citizens.

Security was also stepped up in the former British colony of Hong Kong. Although police refused to comment on specific locations, reports said patrols were increased at the British consulate and the gleaming HSBC headquarters.

But Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee urged residents not to panic, telling reporters: "Hong Kong remains a safe city. Our assessment suggests that our chance of being attacked is not high."

In Southeast Asia, security has been a priority since Singapore uncovered an al-Qaeda plot in December 2001 to bomb the U.S. embassy and the Australian and British High Commissions. The following October, 202 people were killed in the bombings of two bars on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali.

Under the watchful eye of an armed Gurkha soldier, cars were being stopped and checked at the barricaded entrance to the British High Commission in Singapore.

In Jakarta, British Ambassador Richard Gozney told Reuters the embassy had reviewed security "especially the security of the Consulate General, which is being further tightened. The embassy continues to work very closely with the Jakarta police".

"We are trying to guard most of all against car bomb or parcel bomb attacks," he said.

HSBC's main office in Jakarta was "running as usual", HSBC spokesman Agung Laksamana said.

In Manila, there were no visible signs of additional security at HSBC's Philippines headquarters.

"Our offices are on a high state of security alert and measures are being taken," said Laine Santana, assistant vice president for public affairs. "It's business as usual though."

China, too, was leaving nothing to chance.

"HSBC's offices worldwide are on a high state of security alert. We are taking stringent measures to protect our staff and customers worldwide," said HSBC spokeswoman Dan Dan Chang.

"All (offices in China) are complying," Chang said. "We do have security guards on the ground. Today all offices in China are vigilant."

In some of Europe's major cities, authorities closed roads leading to the U.S. and British embassies, bolstered police presence at diplomatic installations and Jewish centers, and urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Turkey.

British authorities refused to release any details about additional security measures taken in the wake of the Istanbul attacks, with London police merely saying protection had been reinforced at "potentially vulnerable locations".

"There is no specific intelligence of places, events, or people in the UK that would lead us at the moment to issue specific warnings to the public," the police said.

Security in London has already been increased ahead of this week's state visit to Britain by U.S. President George W. Bush, who was due to return to Washington on Friday.

In Germany, a security cordon blocked access to the British embassy in Berlin and the residence of the British ambassador to Germany Peter Torry, with extra police officers assigned to stand guard.

British schools in the German capital were also on high alert, as were officials at the Turkish embassy there.

In the French capital, police said on Friday that a significant security detail was already in place, notably at U.S. and British interests, but that patrols would nonetheless be increased.