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The Australian government has leveled a stern warning to thousands of Australians planning to visit Turkey for the annual Gallipoli commemorations, asking them to reconsider the need to travel.
On the back of a number of deadly terrorist attacks across Istanbul and capital city Ankara, Australia's Department of Foreign affairs has urged Australians to "reconsider" travel to the nation for the Anzac Day service to be held on April 25.
More than 80 people have been killed by four separate suicide bomb attacks across the two cities so far in 2016, something which prompted Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to warn thousands of Australians planning the annual pilgrimage to exercise extreme caution.
Many Australians make the trip to Gallipoli every year to commemorate the World War One battle which took place in Turkey from April 25, 1915. The unsuccessful battle is widely regarded as a major factor in forging an Australian identity after it became an independent country from the United Kingdom in 1901.
Bishop said the decision for the government to place warnings on travel to the Turkish cities was "not taken lightly."
"I am conscious of the effect of this on the many Australians planning to attend this year's Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli," Bishop said on Friday.
"The Australian government is not aware of any specific threat to Anzac Day services planned on the Gallipoli Peninsula or to other Australian interests in Turkey."
While the warnings for the two major cities are listed as "reconsider the need for travel," the coastal town of Canakkale - on the Gallipoli Peninsula - remained at "exercise a high degree of caution."
According to the government, thousands of Australians heading to Gallipoli fly into Istanbul for a visit before heading to Canakkale, with many tour buses leaving from the Hagia Sophia, the site of a previous bombing.
"Australians travelling to the Anzac Day services should minimise any transit time spent in Istanbul and Ankara, including in tourist and other public areas," Bishop said.
