German school remains closed over security concerns

A German school in Istanbul, which was closed last Thursday and Friday, remained closed yesterday over security concerns. Turkish media outlets reported that the German High School was shut due to security threats as Turkey marked Nevruz, the festival celebrating the start of spring, on Monday. Nevruz is viewed by the PKK terrorist organization as an event to spread propaganda, and Sunday's planned rallies by PKK-linked groups in Istanbul were banned, which led to minor confrontations between rioters and police in the city and the detention of dozens. Local authorities have banned the rallies fearing potential attacks, as the city's famed İstiklal Avenue was hit by a suicide bombing on Saturday by a DAESH-linked terrorist.

German media outlets said the school in Istanbul may remain closed until Friday, the start of Passover holiday, as the school administration left it to the parents to decide whether to send their children to the school.

Ernst Reuter School, another German school located in the capital, Ankara, was closed yesterday, while the school's administration did not provide an explanation about the cause of the closure.